Israel's government and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to a four-day ceasefire to allow the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

 

The deal, nediated by Qatar, also allows the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave, a Reuters report said.

 

Hamas is believed to be holding more than 200 hostages, taken when its fighters surged into Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

 

The starting time of the truce is expected to be announced today. If the deal successful, it'll be the first break since the beginning of the war. 

 

The deal was approved after a marathon meeting of Israel's war cabinet that ran into the early hours of Wednesday, said a BBC report.

 

Under the deal, the release of every additional 10 hostages will extend the pause in fighting by one day.

 

Before the meeting, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the war effort would continue even if a hostage agreement was struck.

 

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,000 people - including more than 5,000 children - have been killed in Israel's campaign.