[imagesource:wikicommons]

The world has welcomed a truce deal reached between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday after they agreed on a four-day ‘humanitarian pause’ in exchange for the release of hostages.

The truce will see both sides release hostages captured during the last few bloody weeks. There are talks of the release of 50 hostages in Gaza, and Israel published a list of 300 Palestinians to be released under a deal, which initially called for 150.

Concerns have however been raised over Israel’s list, which appears to have only young men or male teenagers, with only 26 females listed.

Hamas has thus far not reacted to the list, but now is not the time for any side to play tricks on the other.

Hamas confirms a four-day temporary ceasefire from both sides. Here are the additional details on the agreed truce ⤵️

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/bDbt8g7Pq3 pic.twitter.com/Z58tWvZ3lP

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 22, 2023

Both China and Germany were quick to react positively to the deal, with China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning saying that “it will help ease the plight of the humanitarian crisis, de-escalate the conflict and ease tensions.” Germany echoed these words, but the focus has now shifted to bringing relief to the people suffering the most because of this conflict.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said today that the “foreign-mediated humanitarian deal between Islamist Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip is welcomed”, and called for ‘wider solutions’ to the conflict.

Qatar’s foreign ministry announced that the hostage release will be done under the guard of Red Crescent workers, and for the duration, Israeli forces along the border will be ‘on temporary hold’.

The deal further stipulates that “there are no military prisoners among those to be released”. Considering the death toll among civilians in the last few weeks, it’s about time for civilians to be removed from this theatre of death.

While some fuel supplies are now entering Gaza, it is far from enough. With winter around the corner, the need will become more acute.

We continue to call for unrestricted humanitarian access, including immediate entry of the full range of supplies needed to save lives. pic.twitter.com/RsKqyE2qLs

— UNICEF (@UNICEF) November 21, 2023

Pope Francis also met with families from both Palestine and Isreal, after which he told a St. Peter’s Square gathering that the “conflict had gone beyond war to become terrorism”.

Whatever you want to call it, let’s hope the innocent people who are suffering get some reprieve from this horrific situation.

[source:news24]