Israeli troops with a variety of military vehicles at a gathering site at an undisclosed location along the Israel-Gaza border, in southern Israel, 18 October 2023. According to Palestinian officials hundreds of people have been killed in an air strike on a hospital in Gaza on 17 October. Hamas blames the blast on an Israeli air strike, but Israel says it was caused by rockets misfired by another group and both sides deny responsibility. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Hannibal Hanschke) In the first stage of the deal mediated by Qatar, Hamas is expected to free Israeli women and children held in Gaza. Israel is expected to release about 150 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and minors in return, Axios reported earlier.
In a second stage of the deal, Hamas would release more women and children in return for Israel prolonging the pause by several days, according to the government statement.
Over the next 24 hours, the names of the Palestinian prisoners set to be released will be made public so that Israelis can appeal to the courts against their being freed, Axios reported. It cited an unidentified Israeli official who briefed reporters earlier Tuesday.
In its statement, Israel’s government said the war to free more hostages and eliminate Hamas would continue.
“There is nonsense out there as if after the pause in fighting, we will stop the war,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of the cabinet meeting.
“We are at war and we will continue it until we achieve all the objectives,” Netanyahu added. “We will eliminate Hamas, return all the hostages and guarantee that there will be no element in Gaza that threatens Israel.”
Qatar is helping broker the talks between Israel and Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said the negotiations are at a critical stage.
Read the latest developments here: Israel-Palestine War
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