A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will go into effect on Sunday morning, it was confirmed today.
Qatar’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Saturday morning, saying a ceasefire would begin at 6.30 GMT on Sunday.
Early on Saturday morning, Israel’s Cabinet approved the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever.
Under the deal, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
The remainder, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first.
Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Hamas has agreed to free three female hostages on day one of the deal, four on day seven and the remaining 26 over the following five weeks.
People in Tel Aviv look at a wall covered with photos of hostages held in Gaza
(Image: Getty Images)
Palestinian prisoners will be released as well.
All prisoners on the list for the first phase are younger or female.
The Jewish Chronicle reported that British hostage Emily Damari is understood to be among the 33 captives set for release, although there has been no official word on the status of British-linked hostages.
Downing Street and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have been approached for comment.
The 33 hostages are understood to be women, children, men over 50, and sick or wounded people.
Israeli approval of the ceasefire agreement and subsequent hostage release come days after the families of British citizens murdered in the Israel-Hamas conflict expressed “cautious optimism” over the ceasefire and hostage deal and warned “there will never be any closure” until all Israeli hostages are returned.