Jordan welcomes Gaza humanitarian pause deal

AMMAN, Jordan

Jordan on Wednesday welcomed a humanitarian pause deal in the Gaza Strip, voicing hope the agreement will be a step towards ending the conflict in the blockaded enclave.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry hailed efforts exerted by Qatar, Egypt and the US to reach the agreement.

“We hope this step will lead to end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and stop the escalation, the targeting of Palestinians and their forced displacement,” the statement said.

"The pause will secure sufficient humanitarian aid for all areas of the Gaza Strip to meet the needs of the population, achieve stability, and ensure that Gazans will remain in their homes,” it added.

Israel and Hamas announced a truce-for-hostage deal early Wednesday.

Under the agreement, 50 Israelis held by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, Israeli media reported.

The deal also includes a four-day pause in fighting and the entry of 300 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, including fuel, into the Gaza Strip.

The agreement also allows an extension of the pause and the potential release of more children and women held by the two sides.

Israel estimates that at least 239 Israelis are being held by Hamas following its cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack, killing more than 14,128 Palestinians, including 5,840 children and 3,920 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.

*Writing by Ziad Aslan in Ankara