Israel will pause fighting in the Gaza Strip for four days in exchange for the freedom of at least 50 hostages from the besieged enclave under a deal approved by Israel and Hamas, in the first major diplomatic breakthrough in the six-week war.
Israel will halt its military offensive in Gaza as early as Thursday local time under the agreement, while Hamas militants release some of the 240 people snatched from Israel during their murderous October 7 attacks. The first hostages to be freed are women and children.
Mark Mulligan is the world editor and a former markets and economics writer. He was a Financial Times correspondent. Connect with Mark on Twitter. Email Mark at mark.mulligan@afr.com.au
