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US President Joe Biden made a statement on the prisoner swap agreement and the 4-day temporary ceasefire.
Biden, who did not mention the thousands of civilians killed in Gaza, said, "We welcomed the agreement to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its brutal attack on Israel on October 7.
I am pleased that these brave souls who endured unspeakable ordeal will be reunited with their families once this agreement is fully implemented. We look forward to the agreement bringing the US hostages home.
THANKS TO QATAR AND EGYPT
I thank Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt for their critical partnership in reaching this agreement. I also appreciate Prime Minister Netanyahu's commitment to support an extended pause to ensure the full implementation of this agreement.
As President, I have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage around the world."
DETAILS OF ISRAEL'S CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT
In a written statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Press Office, it was announced that the government cabinet, which convened under the leadership of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to discuss the prisoner swap deal, approved the decision.
"Accordingly, at least 50 hostages, including women and children, will be released over a period of 4 days, during which the fighting will be suspended," the statement said, adding that the government tonight approved the first phase of the goal of returning all Israeli prisoners in Gaza.
The statement added that "the release of every 10 hostages will lead to an additional one-day pause in hostilities."
