what to remember from Wednesday, November 22

The Israeli government on Wednesday gave the green light to an agreement allowing the release of at least 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting in Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

A real turning point in the conflict. The war between Israel and Hamas entered its 47th day, Wednesday November 22, and, for the first time, an agreement between the two belligerents, concluded under the aegis of Qatar, for a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages kidnapped on October 7 in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, has been concluded. Franceinfo summarizes what you need to remember from this decisive day.

An agreement found in the night

The Israeli government has given the green light to an agreement allowing the release of at least 50 hostages captured on October 7 by Hamas, in exchange for a four-day pause in the fighting in Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

According to Hamas, the agreement provides for the release, during the four days of truce, of 50 hostages, “women and children under 19 years of age”, against that of 150 Palestinians, “women and children” also under the age of 19, detained by Israel. Israel has released the names of 300 Palestinian detainees likely to be released. Among them are 33 women, 123 adolescents and 144 men aged around 18.

No release of hostages before Friday

No Israeli hostage held by Hamas will be released before Friday, the head of the Israeli National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, announced in the evening, while the truce and the first releases were expected on Thursday.

“Negotiations for the release of our hostages continue unceasingly.” The start of the liberation will not occur “not before Friday”, he declared in the night in a press release, without giving any explanations.

“This war continues,” says Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a speech early in the evening, a few hours after the announcement of an agreement. “This war continues until we achieve all our objectives, recover our hostages and destroy Hamas,” he said. The Red Cross will be able to bring medicine to the hostages, he also announced.

Humanitarian convoys during the truce

According to Qatar, the truce must allow the entry of a “greater number of humanitarian and emergency aid convoys, including fuel.” Since October 9, Gaza has been subject to a “total seat” imposed by Israel. “At least 200 to 300 trucks will enter, including eight fuel and gas trucks,” according to a Hamas executive, Taher al-Nounou.

The international community welcomes the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas

US President Joe Biden said “extraordinarily satisfied” of the upcoming release of hostages. “I welcome the announcement of an agreement for the release of hostages and a humanitarian truce”for his part reacted Emmanuel Macron on the social network “an important step”, but affirmed that it remains “a lot to do”.

Iran warns of extension of conflict if truce does not last

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned of a spillover of the war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas if a truce set to take effect on Thursday is not lasting. If the ceasefire does not last “conditions in the region will not remain the same as before the ceasefire and the war will spread”he said in an interview with the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen channel, according to the Iranian Fars news agency.

Israeli army says it intercepted cruise missile targeting south of country

The Israeli army announced that it had intercepted with a fighter plane a “cruise missile”, in the midst of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Following reports of an airspace intrusion in the area of ​​the city of Eilat, Israel’s southernmost city, the army issued a statement saying that“An Israeli Air Force fighter successfully intercepted a cruise missile that was being launched towards Israel.” She specifies that“no infiltration into Israeli territory has been identified”“.