World

Qatar says Israel, Hamas agreed on four-day ceasefire in Gaza

The Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Hamas and Israel have reached a consensus on a four-day humanitarian pause in the hostilities in Gaza.

The commencement time of this pause, which is open to extension, will be disclosed within the next 24 hours.

The mediation efforts were led by Qatar, with involvement from Egypt and the United States.

According to a statement from the ministry, the agreement encompasses the release of 50 civilian women and children currently held as hostages in the Gaza Strip. In return, a specified number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons will be released.

“The number of those released will be increased in later stages of implementation of the agreement,” the ministry affirmed.

This development marks a potential alleviation in the ongoing tensions, with the hope that the pause will create a conducive environment for further diplomatic discussions and potential extensions beyond the initial four days.