Israeli government approves deal for release of 50 Gaza hostages, truce
www.reuters.com
Israel's government voted on Wednesday to back a deal for Palestinian Hamas militants to free 50 women and children held as hostages in Gaza in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Israel’s government voted on Wednesday to back a deal for Palestinian Hamas militants to free 50 women and children held as hostages in Gaza in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting

Officials from Qatar, which has been mediating negotiations, as well as the U.S., Israel and Hamas have for days been saying a deal was imminent.

Ahead of the announcement of the deal, Netanyahu said the intervention of U.S. President Joe Biden had helped to improve the tentative agreement so that it included more hostages and fewer concessions.

“We are at war and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals. To destroy Hamas, return all our hostages and ensure that no entity in Gaza can threaten Israel,” Netanyahu said in a recorded message at the start of the government meeting.

A U.S. official briefed on the discussions said ahead of the deal that it would include the exchange of 150 Palestinian prisoners.

The pause would also allow for humanitarian aid into Gaza.

  • hotcouchguy [he/him]English
    26•1 year ago

    I’m waiting for additional details but that’s how i took it as well. Also raises the question of how much Biden’s involvement might have delayed this process.

    • dead [he/him]OPEnglish
      11•1 year ago

      I found this on Netanyahu’s twitter. There’s a video on his twitter also where he says almost the same thing. It very much seems that Biden fought for a shorter ceasefire according to Netanyahu. I’m not sure how Biden could get any worse. This is really fucked.

      In recent days, I have spoken with our friend, US President Joe Biden and I requested his intervention in order to improve the outline that will be presented to you. Indeed, it has been improved to include more hostages and at a lower cost.

      These talks have been productive. President Biden joined in the effort and I thank him for it. Before you this evening, now, is a difficult decision but it is the correct decision.

      https://nitter.net/IsraeliPM/status/1727091511618408950

      • dannoffs [he/him]English
        6•1 year ago

        He could also mean not doing a prisoner exchange. That’s the only other “cost” I can think of for Israel.