Qatar confirms Israel, Hamas reach deal on four-day truce, hostage release on War Day 47

The Israeli cabinet approved a deal for the release of 50 hostages held by Hamas and temporary 'ceasefire' on the 46th day of the war on Gaza that has killed over 1,400 Palestinians, mostly children, and over 1,200 Israelis.

Qatar, the mediator in the Gaza truce talks, has confirmed that a humanitarian pause has been agreed in Gaza.

A statement posted by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided additional detail including that, the starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours and the pause will last for four days, subject to extension and the agreement includes the release of 50 civilian women and children hostages currently held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons.

Biden 'gratified'

US President Joe Biden has welcomed the deal “to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas”.

“I'm gratified that these brave souls, who have endured an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented,” Biden posted on his X account.

He also thanked the Qatari and Egyptian leadership for “their critical partnership” in reaching this deal.

“Today's deal will bring home more American hostages. As President, I have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage around the world. And I will not stop until they are all released,” he added.

US hopes Gaza truce brings 'full pause' in Israel-Lebanon border clashes

President Joe Biden's administration hopes that a truce in Gaza will lead to a "full pause" in fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border, a senior US official said late Tuesday.

“We also hope that this (agreed four-day truce between Israel and Hamas) will lead to a full pause in some of the hostilities in the north, on the Lebanese border,” the US official said on condition of anonymity.

Rashida Tlaib: Temporary cease-fire is not enough

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress, said the pause "is not enough."

"We must move with urgency to save as many lives as possible and achieve a permanent ceasefire agreement. Over 14,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since this violence began, including thousands of children, and 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes," she said.

“Further displacement of Palestinians and forced annexation of their land will only perpetuate this conflict. Expanding the illegal occupation will never lead to a just and lasting peace. We must address the root causes of this conflict," Tlaib continued.

“When this short-term agreement expires, the bombing of innocent civilians will continue. We need a permanent ceasefire that saves lives, brings all the hostages and those arbitrarily detained home, and puts an end to this horrific violence,” she added.

Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at Australian port

Australian police arrested 23 pro-Palestinian protesters for blocking roads near one of the country's largest container ports in Sydney, authorities said on Wednesday, after they protested against a ship owned by Israeli carrier Zim.

About 400 people had gathered near Port Botany on Tuesday evening for a planned unauthorized protest activity, New South Wales state police said. Protesters who did not comply with directions and occupied roads near the port were charged with offences, including disrupting operations of a major facility.

Protesters carried Palestinian flags, chanted "free Palestine" to banging drums, and held signs "Boycott ZIM" and "End the Gaza Blockade", television footage showed. Police forcibly removed some protesters from near the port's entrance.

Also Read: War Day 45: Israel fails to eliminate Hamas's top leadership, free 240 captives

As the Israel-Hamas war enters in 45th day, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) despite claims—that IDF reaches at gates and heart of Gaza City—have failed to eliminate the top-tier leadership of the Islamist resistance group Hamas and recover a single captive from Hamas captivity.

The global leaders United States President Joe Biden some European countries and the United Kingdom (U.K) openly supported Israel’s right to defense and cautioned Tel Aviv from hurting civilians but IDF bombed Gaza via land, air, and sea.

Tel Aviv military and civilian operators agreed and continued to bomb Gaza infrastructures including hospitals, schools, universities, and markets despite the Untitled Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) warnings.