Israeli Cabinet has approved a ceasefire with Hamas that includes the release of some 50 hostages held by militants, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.

This comes after a ‘near-all-night meeting’ where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet that accepting a deal for the release of hostages taken in the Hamas attacks of October 7 was “a difficult decision but it’s a right decision”.

“The Israeli government is committed to bringing all the abductees home. Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal, under which at least 50 abductees – women and children – will be released over a span of four days, during which there will be a lull in the fighting,” the statement published by The Times of Israel. “The release of every ten additional abductees will result in an additional day of respite,” it added.

Hamas has welcomed a “humanitarian truce” approved by Israel that provides for the freeing of hostages held by the group in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. “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,” a Hamas statement said.

Notably, the statement does not offer details regarding possible concessions Israel is believed to have made, including the release of Palestinian prisoners and the entry of additional fuel and aid into Gaza. Before the vote on the deal, Netanyahu told his cabinet on Tuesday that US President Joe Biden had helped “improve the framework being laid out before you… to include more hostages at a lower price”. “The entire security establishment fully supports it.”(CNI) Current News of India