For release of 50 hostages, Israel to free 150 Palestinian prisoners, says Hamas

The war between Israel and Hamas reached a breakthrough on Wednesday after both sides agreed to a four-day pause in fighting to allow the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza by the terrorist group. As a part of the deal, Israel has also agreed to release 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, a statement by Hamas said. Officials from Qatar, which has been mediating secret negotiations, as well as the US, Israel and Hamas have for days been saying a deal was imminent. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said that the full list of the prisoners who will be freed under the deal is yet to be released but confirmed that it does not include anyone involved in the attacks of October 7. “The mastermind behind many of the horrible things that are unfolding since October 7th, was indeed released in the latest hostage deal,” Conricus told CNN. He added, “What I know is that the Palestinians that are being freed from prisons are not at all that caliber of terrorists that we were talking about before, not serious offenders.”

A statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said 50 women and children will be released over four days, during which there will be a pause in fighting.

For every additional 10 hostages released, the pause would be extended by another day, it said, without mentioning the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

“Israel’s government is committed to return all the hostages home. Tonight, it approved the proposed deal as a first stage to achieving this goal,” said the statement, released after hours of deliberation that were closed to the press.

With inputs from agencies