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Middle East conflict

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Israel approves deal with HAMAS on release of hostages, humanitarian pause in Gaza

In line with the agreement, a humanitarian pause will be declared in the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli authorities will release dozens of Palestinians kept in Israeli prisons

WASHINGTON, November 22. /TASS/. The Israeli government has approved an agreement with radical Palestinian movement HAMAS to free dozens of hostages and declare a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip, the Axios portal reported citing sources.

In line with the agreement, a humanitarian pause will be declared in the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli authorities will release dozens of Palestinians kept in Israeli prisons.

According to the report, during the first stage, HAMAS is to release around 50 women and children held in Gaza, while Israel will free around 150 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and teenagers, within the four-day humanitarian pause.

Moreover, Israel will allow around 300 trucks with humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt. Also more fuel imports will be allowed during the humanitarian pause.

During the second stage, HAMAS may release more women, children and the elderly, while Israel will extend the pause for a few more days.

The portal says that the deal, if implemented, "will be the biggest diplomatic breakthrough" leading to the first major pause in fighting since the conflict broke out.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 200 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ aggressive actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria, as well as a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.

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Middle East conflict

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