Israel's war cabinet has approved the deal to release hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, after a nearly seven-hour meeting.

It is "the right decision" to make, said Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, reiterating that "Israel is at war and we will continue until we achieve the destruction of Hamas."

The agreement provides for a pause in the fighting for at least four days and the release of 50 women and children held hostage by Hamas.

American President Joe Biden is satisfied and in a note thanks Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi for their "collaboration in reaching this agreement".

«I welcome the agreement aimed at guaranteeing the release of the hostages taken by the terrorist group Hamas during its brutal attack against Israel on 7 October - writes the US president -. Jill and I have held close to our hearts all the people held hostage and their loved ones over these weeks and I am extraordinarily happy that some of these brave souls, who have endured weeks of captivity and an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once that this agreement will be fully implemented."

«The European Commission will do everything possible to use the pause to send humanitarian aid to Gaza – said the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen – I asked Commissioner Janez Lenarcic to increase deliveries to Gaza as soon as possible to deal with the humanitarian crisis."

(Unioneonline/D)