Aid for Gaza and start of hostage exchange

The Israeli government has agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas, which is to take effect within 24 hours. Within 72 hours of the start of the ceasefire, the Israeli hostages held in Gaza are to be released.

Currently, there are said to be about 20 living hostages, with another 26 considered dead. Humanitarian aid—primarily food and medicine—is to be delivered to the area shortly after the ceasefire begins. Many people in Gaza are living in makeshift conditions after their homes were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.

Part of the agreement is also the start of the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

In Israel itself, however, the agreement is controversial, especially among the extreme right. While Hamas declares that the war is over, many points of the agreement are still pending – including the final list of Palestinian prisoners for exchange.

If the agreement is implemented, it would be the most significant attempt yet to end the two-year conflict, which has already claimed more than 67,000 Palestinian lives.
A US delegation will also travel to the region to monitor the stabilization.

(reuters, lup)