Israel-Hamas war Highlights: Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV makes claim about timing of truce

Hamas in a statement said it is expecting 150 Palestinians released from Israeli jails amid the humanitarian truce. Meanwhile, the Israel's agreement to ceasefire did not spell the end of the war.

Russia said it has welcomed the humanitarian truce deal between Israel and Hamas. "Moscow welcomes the agreement between Israel and Hamas on a four-day humanitarian pause," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a post on Telegram.

Five Palestinians were killed in West Bank's Tolkurm city in an Israeli drone strike, according to the local news agency cited by Reuters. This comes moments after a truce deal was brokered between Israel and Hamas to enable the exchange of detainees and hostages.

After undertaking joint mediation efforts with Egypt, the US, Israel and Hamas, Qatar announced the success of the humanitarian pause after a truce deal was achieved amid the Israel-Hamas war. In a statement, Qatar affirms its commitment to ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, stop the bloodshed, and protect civilians.

US President Joe Biden has welcomed the truce deal attained by Israel to maintain a ceasefire and release Palestinian detainees in exchange for the release of about 50 hostages held captive by Hamas.

After the Israeli Cabinet okayed the truce deal in a bid to release at least 50 hostages captured in Gaza, Hamas said it welcomes the move.

“The provisions of this agreement were formulated according to the vision of the resistance and its determinants that aim to serve our people and enhance their steadfastness in the face of aggression,” the Islamist group said in a statement.

1. Elon Musk's social media firm X Corp will donate all revenue from advertising and subscriptions associated with the ongoing war in Gaza to hospitals in Israel and the Hamas-controlled region, the tech billionaire announced on Tuesday.
2. “X Corp will be donating all revenue from advertising & subscriptions associated with the war in Gaza to hospitals in Israel and the Red Cross/Crescent in Gaza,” Musk said in a social media post. Read more

Three Americans, including a three-year-old girl, are among 50 hostages expected to be released by the Islamist Palestinian group under the deal between Israel and Hamas to maintain ceasefire, Reuters reported citing US official.

The Benjamin Netanyahu-led war Cabinet, in its agreement on ceasefire, said the proposed lull would be extended by an additional day for every ten hostages released by Hamas.

The Israeli government, while agreeing to implement a temporary pause to its offensive against Hamas, said the first among hostages to be released would be women and children.

The Isreal government came to terms on maintaining ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of at least 50 hostages held captive by Hamas.

"The government approved the broad outlines of the first stage of an agreement under which at least 50 kidnapped people -- women and children -- will be released over four days during which there will be a lull in the fighting," the statement read.

As the Israeli government mulls to put in place a ceasefire after weeks of offensive operation against Hamas, ministers in the dedicated war Cabinet were reportedly involved in heated exchange while discussing the possibilities of the deal on the release of hostages.

According to a local media, as reported by Times of Israel, minister Benny Gantz hit out at Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for showing concern over Hamas' possible demand for extending the ceasefire. “Do you trust [Yahya] Sinwar (mastermind of October 7 attack) more than us?” Gantz was quoted as asking Smotrich.

Ministers of the ruling Likud Party in Israel also confronted far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir for holding a faction meeting of his ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party before the cabinet convened. It was reported that Gvir and his faction would vote against the proposition. Responding to call for unity among Cabinet members, Gvir said, “But we are not united…This is a decision with generational damage that will come back to hurt us badly.”

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken has been making repeated trips to Israel and neigbouring regions since the war began. He is likely to make another visit to Israel early next week for talks with senior Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the conflict.

According to a local news website, Blinken is expected to visit Israel during a several day ceasefire which is slated to be implemented as a part of the deal to release 50 hostages from Gaza.