Israel and Hamas agree to four-day cease-fire, freeing hostages and bringing aid to Gaza

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day cease-fire in the ongoing war in Gaza, a diplomatic breakthrough that could potentially lead to the winding down of the conflict. The truce, which was announced on Wednesday, will not only free dozens of hostages held by militants but also release Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Additionally, the cease-fire will bring much-needed aid to the besieged territory.

The war, which was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 rampage into Israel, has been ongoing for seven weeks and has resulted in the destruction of vast areas of Gaza. It has also led to a surge in violence in the occupied West Bank and raised concerns about a wider conflagration across the Middle East.

Despite the cease-fire agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday that he informed U.S. President Joe Biden that Israel will continue its war after the temporary cease-fire expires. Netanyahu stated in a news conference that the war will continue until all of Israel’s goals are achieved.

The truce is expected to take effect on Thursday. Netanyahu and members of his special war cabinet announced earlier on Wednesday that they will resume the war until Hamas is destroyed and all 240 hostages it is holding are released.

The logistics of the cease-fire deal are still being worked out, but it temporarily freezes both sides at a crucial moment. While Israeli troops hold much of northern Gaza and claim to have dismantled tunnels and much of Hamas’ infrastructure in that area, they acknowledge that the group’s infrastructure remains intact elsewhere.

Just days before the truce was announced, Israel had expressed its determination to take its ground offensive into the south. This could have devastating consequences for the uprooted population of Gaza, as most of them are concentrated in the south with nowhere to go to avoid the assault.

Residents in Gaza City reported intensified fighting overnight into Wednesday, with gunfire, heavy artillery, and airstrikes. Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets at Israel throughout the day, but no casualties were reported.

The announcement of the truce follows weeks of indirect negotiations to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas and other militants during their Oct. 7 raid. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States played a role in mediating the deal. Under the agreement, 50 hostages will be freed in stages in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners. Both sides have agreed to prioritize the release of women and children.

Israel has stated that the truce will be extended by an additional day for every 10 hostages freed by Hamas. On the other hand, Hamas has said that hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including fuel, will be allowed to enter Gaza.

The cease-fire is set to take effect on Thursday at 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT), according to Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV channel. Biden welcomed the deal, and several nations, including Britain, France, China, and Russia, have also expressed their support.

Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, expressed hope that the deal would eventually lead to a permanent cease-fire and serious talks on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While the announcement of the truce brings hope for a potential end to the war, there is still uncertainty about whether the war will resume after the cease-fire expires. Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel intends to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed throughout Gaza.

The war began when several thousand Hamas militants broke into southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking hostages. Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 11,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants, but it notes that around two-thirds of the dead are women and minors. The number of casualties has risen sharply since Nov. 11, and over 2,700 people are missing and believed to be buried under rubble.

Israel’s goal of crushing Hamas throughout Gaza would not be achieved if the war were to end now. The Israeli military claims to have killed thousands of Hamas fighters, but it has not provided any evidence to support this claim. A cease-fire would provide an opportunity for Hamas to regroup, and its leader, Yehya Sinwar, would likely present the release of prisoners as a major achievement and declare victory if the war were to end.

Israel is facing pressure to extend the truce due to international criticism of its actions and concerns about the heavy toll on Gaza’s civilians. The war’s devastation has led to the displacement of over 1.7 million Palestinians, many of whom will be unable to return home due to the extensive damage and the presence of Israeli troops in the north.

The truce agreement promises an increase in aid to the south, which will provide some relief to the hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of food and water. Since the start of the war, Israel has barred imports to Gaza, except for a limited amount of aid entering through Egypt’s Rafah crossing.

Humanitarian aid groups operating in Gaza have criticized the cease-fire, stating that the truce is too short and that the capacity of the Rafah crossing is insufficient to deliver enough aid to meet the urgent demand.

The return of hostages could bring some relief to Israel, where their plight has captured the nation’s attention. However, the families of the hostages may find themselves divided as some hostages are freed while others remain captive. This situation has been described as “inhumane” by Ofri Bibas Levy, whose brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews are among the captives.

While the cease-fire agreement offers hope for a potential end to the war and the release of hostages and prisoners, the situation remains fragile, and the ultimate outcome of the conflict is still uncertain..