Israel Hamas War: Everything you need to know about the four-day truce

The starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours and last for four days, subject to extension, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

After over six weeks of war that has killed thousands and ravaged several areas of Gaza, Israel and Palestinian armed group Hamas have agreed to a four-day truce.

Qatar announced on November 22 that Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a "four-day humanitarian pause," in exchange for the release of 50 hostages in Gaza. This is announced to begin in the next 24 hours.

Additionally, Israel said it was willing to extend the pause beyond the four-day period, adding a day for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas.

The starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours and last for four days, subject to extension, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

As part of the deal, Israel has agreed to release 150 Palestinian women and children from its prisons.

According to a report by AFP, the four-day truce marked the first major diplomatic breakthrough since fighting began more than six weeks ago.

Under the Qatar-brokered deal, Hamas will release 50 women and children kidnapped during their October 7 raids, in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians.

Qatar has said that the deal would allow an increase in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Since October 7, when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel and killed 1,200 people, the Israeli army has been relentlessly bombarding Gaza with air and ground attacks, killing more than 14,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Qatar said the deal had been undertaken with Egypt and the United States as well as Hamas and Israel and would include "the entry of a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel designated for humanitarian needs", reported AFP.

Expressing his relief coming from the truce, Joe Biden said in a statement released by the White House, "I am extraordinarily gratified that some of these brave souls will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented."

Biden also thanked the leaders of Qatar and Egypt for their "critical leadership" in reaching the deal and hailed Israel for agreeing to an extended pause in fighting in Gaza to allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

"Today's deal should bring home additional American hostages, and I will not stop until they are all released," Biden added.

Biden said he would remain in close touch with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt "as we work to ensure this deal is carried through in its entirety."

"It is important that all aspects of this deal be fully implemented."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the hostage deal was "the result of tireless diplomacy and relentless effort across the Department and broader United States government."

"While this deal marks significant progress, we will not rest as long as Hamas continues to hold hostages in Gaza," Blinken said.

While Qatar played a key role in the mediation, a senior US official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Egypt was vital in brokering arrangments with Hamas.

"I don't want to understate the role the Egyptians have played at key moments," the senior official said.