Israel-Hamas Conflict: Hamas Says Ceasefire In Gaza To Begin Thursday Morning

France's Macron welcomes truce deal

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed the agreement for the release of hostages and a temporary ceasefire. "We are working tirelessly to release all hostages," he said.

He also said the deal should allow humanitarian aid into the enclave and civilians in the strip should be rescued.

Hamas official says ceasefire to start Thursday morning: local media

Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook has said that the ceasefire in Gaza will start Thursday, 10 a.m. Israel time, local N12 News reported.

Israel has yet to confirm the truce's starting time.

Jordan lauds humanitarian truce

Jordan has joined the growing list of countries that welcomed the ceasefire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.

Hostages to be given medical attention first before repatriation work: White House

Hostages who will be released by Hamas under the ceasefire deal will first receive medical care in Israel before repatriation efforts begin, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

For U.S. nationals released, the State Department will provide consular assistance, he added.

400 tunnels destroyed since war started: IDF

Israeli troops have destroyed around 400 tunnel shafts since Oct. 7, the IDF said Wednesday. Some of the shafts were found "in the heart of civilian neighborhoods" such as agricultural areas and schools," the IDF added.

Indonesia welcomes temporary ceasefire

Indonesia welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a series of posts on X.

"Indonesia expresses its appreciation for the mediation efforts initiated by Qatar," the MoFA said, adding that the government will use the truce period to continue tracking down the whereabouts of three Indonesian staffers at the Indonesian Hospital who have been unreachable.

Ambulances arrive in Al-Shifa to evacuate patients

A total of 14 Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances have arrived at the Al-Shifa Hospital to evacuate wounded people and other patients, the PRCS said Wednesday. A team composed of UN staffers and Doctors Without Borders personnel are part of the convoy.

Israeli forces launched a raid at the hospital last week as part of its operations to hunt down Hamas operatives it said were using Gaza's largest medical complex as a command node.

Israel 'repeating past mistakes' in truce deal: national security minister

Israeli far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday slammed the Israel cabinet's decision to approve a truce deal that will see the release of dozens of hostages being held by Hamas.

"Israel is once again captive to the concept of repeating past mistakes," he said in a Google-translated post on X, adding that Hamas "needs this ceasefire like breathing oxygen" more than Israel does since the terror group will use the truce period to regroup.

He further noted that the deal was a boon to Hamas as they wanted to "get rid" of the women and children hostages anyway due to international pressure. "This is a historical mistake," he reiterated.

Gvir has come under fire in recent days due to his far-right Otzma Yehudit party's push for legislation that will allow the death penalty for terrorists. The families of hostages have been pleading with the party not to advance the proposed bill at such a critical time as it could endanger hostages.

IDF urges Gaza City residents to evacuate as humanitarian corridor reopens

The Israeli army has reopened an evacuation passage for northern Gaza residents, IDF spokesperson for Arab media Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee said in a Google-translated post on X Wednesday.

He also urged Gaza City residents, "especially the neighborhoods of the Old City of Jabalia and Shuja'iya" to evacuate due to the risks posed by the fighting to civilians.

The IDF will also temporarily halt military operations "for humanitarian purposes" in the Jurat al-Lot and Batn al-Sameen neighborhoods in Khan Yunis for several hours Wednesday.

Israeli army strikes Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

Israeli air defense forces struck several Hezbollah assets in Lebanese territory Wednesday morning local time, the IDF said. Terrorist infrastructure and a military site were among the facilities targeted, the Israeli army said.

Iraq Kata'ib Hezbollah says 5 killed by U.S. air strikes

Iraq's Kata'ib Hezbollah militia said five of its fighters were killed in U.S. strikes that the U.S. Central Command said earlier Wednesday were carried out in response to attacks by Iran and its proxies that targeted American forces and allies.

Hezbollah leader meets with Hamas officials in Beirut

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah met with top Hamas officials Wednesday following the Israel-Hamas truce deal, multiple local outlets reported.

Nasrallah particularly spoke with Khalil al-Hayyah, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, and Osama Hamdan, Hamas' representative in Lebanon. Al-Hayyah was involved in ceasefire negotiations brokered by Qatar, as per Haaretz.

American fighter jets strike two sites in Iraq following attacks against U.S. and its allies

American warplanes conducted "discrete, precision strikes against two facilities in Iraq," the U.S. Central Command said Wednesday. The strikes were "in direct response to the attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces by Iran and Iran-backed groups," it added.

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IDF operations in Gaza still on: spox

Israeli ground forces in Gaza are still continuing with their operations, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Daniel Hagari said Wednesday.

His update came a few hours hours after Qatar confirmed that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal that includes freeing dozens of hostages being held in Gaza. The Qatari foreign ministry did say that the truce's starting time is expected to be announced within the next 24 hours.

Israeli army raids northwest Jabalia neighborhood, Beit Hanon

Israeli combat troops with the Givati Brigade carried out "targeted foot raids in the Sheikh Zayed neighborhood" northwest of Jabalia Tuesday, the IDF said in a Google-translated post Wednesday. Hamas observation posts in the area were destroyed during the operations, the IDF said.

The IDF's 14^th Brigade also raided Beit Hanon. During the raid, Israeli soldiers discovered "many weapons" in one house, including a Kalashnikov assault rifle, cartridges and axes.

Palestine's president welcomes truce

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomes the "humanitarian truce agreement," according to a post by senior Palestinian aide Hussein Al-Sheikh. He also thanked the Qatari and Egyptian mediators who worked hard for the two sides to reach a hostage-ceasefire deal.

Ceasefire will apply to northern border if Israel agrees: Lebanese newspaper

The ceasefire in Gaza will also apply to Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Israeli media reported, citing Lebanese newspaper Nidaa al-Watan. "Hezbollah will adhere to the ceasefire on the condition that Israel does too," the report noted.

The decision was reportedly reached to allow Lebanese locals near the border to harvest their crops.

European Commission president welcomes hostage deal

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission said in a statement Wednesday she "wholeheartedly" welcomes the agreement between Israel and Hamas to implement a multiday ceasefire and an exchange of hostages and prisoners.

She said the commission will "do its utmost" to use the ceasefire period to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza. She also called on Hamas to "immediately release all hostages and allow them to return home safely."

Israel's opposition leader backs ceasefire deal

Yair Lapid, leader of the Israeli opposition, said in a statement Wednesday that the party supports the ceasefire deal as it was the government's "supreme obligation" to continue working on getting all hostages home.

Israel publishes list of Palestinian prisoners who may be released under hostage exchange deal

The Israeli justice ministry on Wednesday published a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who are candidates for release as part of the ceasefire deal that the cabinet approved Tuesday. The Israeli public has 24 hours to express opposition to the list and file a petition to the High Court.

Israel did not specify how many Palestinian detainees will be freed, but Hamas said 150 of their prisoners will be released under the agreement.

Blinken hails 'significant progress' after hostage deal

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday lauded the ceasefire deal that will include the release of 50 hostages as "significant progress" in getting all the abducted home. He said the U.S. government "will not rest" until all hostages are freed.

IDF can't ensure long-term security in northern border without Hezbollah battle: former military secretary

Maj. Gen. (Res.). Eitan Dangot said Wednesday that it was not possible to ensure long-term security for communities in Israel's border with Lebanon "without making escalation with Hezbollah."

Dangot, who was a former military secretary to three Israeli ministers of defense, believes Israel is "very close" to a full military conflict with Hezbollah, a paramilitary group based in Lebanon that has Iran's support and has been increasing pressure on the IDF since the war started by firing rockets into Israeli territory.

3 Americans, including 3-year-old, to be released by Hamas: Report

Three American hostages, including a 3-year-old girl whose parents were among more than a thousand people killed by Hamas operatives on Oct. 7, will be freed by the terror group as part of the ceasefire agreement, Reuters reported, citing a senior U.S. official.

American hostages to be freed in ceasefire deal: Biden

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas "will bring home more American hostages," Biden said in a series of posts on X Wednesday. He said the government "will not stop" until all American hostages are brought home.

He also thanked Qatari and Egyptian leadership "for their critical partnership in reaching this deal." He expressed appreciation for Netanyahu's "commitment in supporting an extended pause" to ensure that the deal's provisions can be implemented.

Israel has been adamant about a ceasefire since the fighting began in Oct. 7 when Hamas invaded Israel and killed more than a thousand Israelis and foreign nationals. Wednesday's deal marks the first ceasefire since the war started.

Israeli army releases images of tunnels 'underneath' Al-Shifa Hospital

The IDF has published new photos of what it said was "proof" Hamas terrorism was "festering underneath hospitals." The photos showed tunnels "underneath the Shifa Hospital," as per the IDF.

Israel has repeatedly said Hamas had been using Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest medical complex, as a command center for its paramilitary operations against Israel.

Earlier this week, the IDF released footage and images of a tunnel shaft Israeli forces uncovered within the hospital's compound. Multiple outlets have confirmed the location of the shaft, with a CNN team visiting the site Monday.

Qatar announces hostage-ceasefire deal

Qatar's foreign ministry released a statement Wednesday, confirming that Israel and Hamas have agreed on a "humanitarian pause" that will last for four days. The ceasefire's starting time will be announced within the next 24 hours, the ministry said, adding that the truce is "subject to extension."

The agreement includes an increased flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including fuel.

The Qatari foreign ministry thanked Egypt and the U.S. for "joint mediation efforts undertaken" with Qatar to broker the hostage deal. It confirmed that 50 civilian women and children will be released by Hamas but did not specify the number of detained Palestinians that will be freed by Israel.

Israeli president supports cabinet approval of hostage release deal

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday expressed his support for Netanyahu and the cabinet's decision "to promote the release of hostages," as per a Google-translated statement he posted on X.

He said the difficulties in getting the agreement through were "painful and difficult" but the decision to approve the ceasefire deal was "a moral and ethical obligation that correctly expresses the Jewish and Israeli value of redeeming captives."

IDF needs to be 'very careful' during ceasefire due to 'dubious' past experience with Hamas: Spox

The Israeli army needs to be "very careful" on the ground when the hostage exchange deal takes place, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said late Tuesday, before Israel approved the hostage exchange deal.

"Any ceasefire with Hamas, based on our previous experience, is always a dubious endeavor," he said, looking back to a 2014 battle with the terror group. He said Hamas took several Israeli soldiers hostage at the time "after" the United Nations brokered a ceasefire deal.

"We have to be very careful when it comes to anything that relates to operations on the ground with Hamas," he added.

Austin reaffirms US support for Israel, emphasizes importance of preventing regional spillover

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Tuesday, emphasizing "U.S. support for Israel and the importance of preventing regional escalation," according to a Pentagon press release.

Fears are growing about the potential spillover of Israel-Hamas tensions amid continued attacks into Israel from Lebanese territory. Yemen's Houthis also claimed responsibility for ballistic missiles fired toward Israel last week. Earlier this week, the Yemeni rebel group hijacked a cargo ship linked to an Israeli company.

During the talk, Austin reiterated the importance of "increasing and sustaining humanitarian aid and protecting civilians in Gaza" as Israeli forces continue to expand ground operations in northern Gaza.

Netanyahu dispels talk of the war ending after ceasefire

Netanyahu shared late Tuesday that Israel is still at war with Hamas. "There is a lot of nonsense out there to the effect that after the pause to return our hostages, we will stop the war," he said, addressing the Israeli public before the government meeting in Tel Aviv.

"Then let me make it clear: we are at war — and will continue the war. We will continue the war until we achieve all of our war aims," he reiterated, as per a translation by the Prime Minister's office.

The Israeli leader's remarks came after Israel's cabinet voted to approve a ceasefire deal with Hamas that includes freeing 50 women and children being held in Gaza. Foreign nationals will be among the hostages that Hamas will release.

Israel cabinet approves hostage-ceasefire deal

Israel's cabinet has voted to approve a truce agreement with Hamas that will include the release of at least 50 Israeli and foreign hostages — women and children — in exchange for a four-day ceasefire.

After the first phase of the deal, an extra day of ceasefire will be applied for every 10 additional hostages that the terror group will release. The agreement marks the first time military operations will come to a halt since Hamas launched a carnage in Israel on Oct. 7.

Hamas welcomed the "humanitarian truce," saying in a statement that the deal includes the release of 150 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons.

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