After the government approved an exchange of prisoners and hostages and a temporary ceasefire last night, Hamas senior leader Mousa Abu Marzouk said in an interview for al-Jazeera today (Wednesday) that the cease fire would go into effect tomorrow at 10:00.
This announcement comes after the government approving the hostage deal in the early hours of the morning. According to the deal’s terms, Hamas will free 50 of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip in stages over four days, these being children and mothers taken captive on October 7.
Hamas demanded that only civilians be released, while Israel demanded that all those released have Israeli citizenship. In exchange, Israel would free about 150 prisoners, female and minor aged terrorists not convicted of murder.
At the request of Defense Minister Gallant, the government decision included a sentence saying that after exhausting all the options as part of the agreement secured, Israel would return to a forceful ground operation in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu also clarified that as part of the agreement, there would be Red Cross visits to all those who haven’t been freed – including supply of medicines to those who need it.