Israel / Gaza: hostage deal, four-day pause

Written by David Fletcher 24 Nov 2023
Israel / Gaza: hostage deal, four-day pause

Israel and Hamas have struck a deal to exchange fifty hostages in Gaza for a four-day ceasefire. This agreement also includes the release of 150 Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli prisons and an increase in humanitarian aid for Gaza. The four-day pause came into effect on 24 November, with Israel offering to extend it even further if Hamas agreed to release more hostages. Joe Biden has welcomed the deal, hoping it will end the suffering of the hostages and alleviate the plight of innocent Palestinian families. Until the ceasefire, Israel continued the conflict, with at least 300 airstrikes within 24 hours: see Israel remains committed to its mission to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of over 200 hostages captured in October. Hamas sees this agreement as an opportunity for Palestinians to recover after enduring an intense Israeli military operation. 

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  • Pray: for peace in this troubled region, that the ceasefire holds, and that innocent lives are spared. May God's wisdom guide leaders to seek lasting solutions. (Matthew 5:9)