|
Trending Topics
|
Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-774363
Israel Accepts a Slowdown in Gaza Combat to Rescue Women and Children Held Hostage
(Jerusalem Post) Tovah Lazaroff - The Israeli government early Wednesday approved a partial hostage deal that includes a pause in the Gaza war in exchange for a release of up to 80 out of over 239 people seized by terrorists on Oct. 7. Prime Minister Netanyahu said neither the lives of the soldiers nor the intelligence gathering apparatus would be harmed during the pause. Under the deal, 50 hostages will be released in smaller groups during the first four days, including 30 children, eight mothers, and 12 other women. Israel will release 150 Palestinian women and minors held on security-related offenses, but none directly involved in terror attacks with fatalities. There is a possibility for the release of an additional 30 hostages, should the pause be extended for up to another four days. All those slated for release are alive and have Israeli citizenship. The deal also included an agreement to have representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross visit the remaining hostages and supply them with medicine. Fuel can enter Gaza during the pause. There will be a six-hour window each day during which IDF aerial surveillance of Gaza will be halted. "There are other intelligence-gathering capabilities. We will not be blind in those 6 hours," an Israeli official said.