Israel agrees to cease-fire with Hamas in exchange for release of 50 hostages

The deal calls for a four-day cease-fire, during which Israel will halt its military offensive in Gaza while Hamas frees “at least” 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it and other militants are holding, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.

The first hostages to be released are women and children. “The government of Israel is committed to bringing all of the hostages home. Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal,” Benjamin Netanyahu’s office office said in a statement.

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Sources believe a woman who gave birth to her baby while a hostage will be one of those released.

Journalist Hallel Bitton Rosen wrote on X: "Officials in Israel estimate that the ceasefire will enter into a period on Thursday morning-noon, and at the same time the release of the first hostages.

"The same sources also estimate that the mother who gave birth to her baby in captivity will be released along with him as part of the deal."

The deal will also allow 300 aid trucks a day into Gaza from Egypt.

It was not clear when the truce, brokered by the U.S. and Qatar, would go into effect.

Ahead of the early morning vote, Netanyahu said: “We are at war, and we will continue the war.

“We will continue until we achieve all our goals.”

The Israeli government statement said the truce would be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas.