Hamas & Israel reach 4-day truce & hostage exchange deal

For the first time since the outbreak of Israel's war on Gaza on October 7, there will be a four-day pause in fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants as well as Israel's indiscriminate bombing of the territory.

These are the headline terms in a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar, the US, and to a lesser degree, Egypt.

The pause to the onslaught will give only slight relief to the battered Palestinian enclave, many areas of which have been completely turned to rubble, burying what is believed to be thousands of more people underneath.

It will remain to be seen whether the pause could become a lasting ceasefire and lead to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The deal will also see the exchange of 50 of the approximately 250 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and around 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Women and children held by Hamas over the past six weeks will be swapped during a careful four-day process in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, mainly teenagers and women.