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Published November 22, 2023last updated November 22, 2023
US President Joe Biden thanked Egypt and Qatar for helping broker the deal between Israel and Hamas. At least 50 hostages will be released by Hamas amid a four-day pause in fighting with Israel. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ZHwo
Israeli women and children held by Hamas in Gaza will be released as part of the dealImage: Ariel Schalit/AP Photo/picture alliance Skip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know Biden said he was ‘extraordinary gratified’ by Gaza hostage deal Israel, Hamas agree to hostage release, pause in fighting European Parliament to debate humanitarian aid to Gaza Skip next section Biden welcomes deal to release hostages from GazaNovember 22, 2023
Biden welcomes deal to release hostages from GazaUS President Joe Biden said he welcomed the deal that will secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 terror attacks on Israel, adding that US hostages would be among those released.
Biden said he is “extraordinarily gratified” that some of the hostages “will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented.” He added that the deal should “bring home more American hostages.”
A senior US official said three Americans were expected to be among the 50 released hostages.
“As president, I have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage around the world. And I will not stop until they are all released,” he said in a statement on social media.
Biden also thanked Qatar’s and Egypt’s leaders for their “critical partnership” in reaching the agreement.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed the deal in a statement. It said the start of a pause in fighting will be announced within the coming 24 hours.
The deal is due to last four days and is subject to extension, according to Doha.
“The humanitarian pause will also allow the entry of a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel designated for humanitarian needs,” the Qatari ministry said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ZHwtSkip next section Israeli cabinet approves deal for release of hostages, pause in fightingNovember 22, 2023
Israeli cabinet approves deal for release of hostages, pause in fightingThe Israeli cabinet approved in the early hours of Wednesday a deal with Hamas that would lead to the release of some Israeli hostages.
According to Israel, 50 Israeli hostages taken by the militant group Hamas during the October 7 terror attacks will be freed — all of them women and children.
In exchange, Hamas said Israel will release 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails.
The deal also includes a four-day pause in fighting. Israel said it would extend the break by an additional day for every 10 hostages released by Hamas.
Ahead of the deal’s approval, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed a pause in fighting would not mean the end of the war on Hamas.
“We will continue the war until we achieve all of our war aims: To eliminate Hamas, return all of our hostages and our missing, and ensure that there is no element in Gaza that threatens Israel,” he said in a video released on social media.
Netanyahu argued that under the deal “not only will the war effort not be harmed, it will enable the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to prepare for the continuation of the fighting.”
The Israeli prime minister had told the cabinet that accepting the deal with Hamas was “a difficult decision but it’s a right decision.”
Israel, the United States, Germany and several other nations designate Hamas as a terror organization.
rmt, wd/sms (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)
https://p.dw.com/p/4ZHwp
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