Families and friends of about 240 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza call for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring them home during a demonstration in Tel Aviv. Picture: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Gaza ceasefire: What are the terms of the hostage deal agreed by Israel and Hamas?

DAN SABBAGH AND JULIAN BORGER, THE GUARDIAN |

Fifty women and children held hostage by Hamas and other groups in Gaza since October 7 are set to be released in exchange for a four-day ceasefire, the office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

According to the Israeli government, Hamas militants took about 240 hostages and killed 1,200 people when they raided Israel on October 7.

The hostages were taken from communities, including collective farms, kibbutzim and military bases in southern Israel as well as people attending an outdoor music festival.

More than half the hostages held foreign and dual citizenship from some 40 countries including the US Thailand, Britain, France, Argentina, Germany, Chile, Spain and Portugal.

Nine-year-old Israeli-Irish girl Emily Hand is also believed to be among the hostages held in the enclave.

Hamas has said it has hidden the captives in “safe places and tunnels” in Gaza.

Who brokered the deal?

The deal between Israel and Hamas was brokered by Qatar with the support of the United States.

A US official said three Americans would be among those freed, including a girl who turns four this week, and that the first release should take place by Thursday.

What are the terms of the deal?

According to Hamas, Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners – all women and children – from Israeli jails and allow hundreds of aid trucks a day to cross the Rafah border with Egypt, providing humanitarian supplies to Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel will cease air strikes in southern Gaza and restrict them to six hours a day in the north, according to the Hamas account of the deal, which also says Israeli forces have committed to not bring military vehicles into Gaza during the ceasefire, nor try to detain anyone.

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