The Israeli government on Wednesday approved a temporary ceasefire agreement with Palestinian militant group Hamas to secure the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
The deal, brokered by Qatar and the United States, entails a four-day pause in fighting to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. In return, Hamas will free 50 Israeli hostages comprising women and children. For every additional 10 hostages freed, another day will be added to the truce.
This marks the first agreement between the warring parties since clashes erupted in October. Israel has been pounding Gaza with airstrikes after Hamas launched surprise attacks that killed 1400 Israelis. Over 13,000 Palestinian civilians have perished in the subsequent Israeli bombardment.
While Hamas welcomed the “humanitarian truce”, Israel vowed to resume military operations after the pause. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated this is just the first stage towards securing all hostage releases and destroying Hamas’ capabilities. His message came after facing internal opposition from far-right coalition partners
Critics believe the deal grants too many concessions to Hamas. However, US intervention helped improve terms to free more hostages upfront. President Biden’s efforts were key to pushing the agreement forward.
For now, citizens on both sides will get respite from non-stop violence. But long-term peace remains uncertain as key issues stay unresolved in the intractable conflict. Hostage releases could build momentum for wider political negotiations. Still, more bloodshed likely looms if no progress is made toward addressing underlying grievances.
