Live updates | The timing of the cessation of fighting between Israel and Hamas will be announced within the next 24 hours

to Ceasefire agreement An agreement between the Hamas militant group and Israel has been confirmed by both parties, along with Washington and Qatar, which helped broker the deal that would lead to a temporary halt to the devastating war that is now in its seventh week.

The Israeli government said that under the broad outlines of the deal, Hamas must release at least 50 of about 240 hostages held in Gaza. Hamas attack on October 7 Over four days. Qatar, which mediates with Hamas, later confirmed the agreement, saying the start date would be announced within the next 24 hours and would last for four days. The agreement will provide the first relief to war-weary Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 11,000 people were killed, according to health authorities.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before the cabinet vote early Wednesday that the war would continue even if an agreement was reached. About 1,200 people were killed in Israel, most of them during the initial incursion by Hamas.

currently:

— The truce agreement raises hopes Freeing the hostages in Gaza and stopping the worst violence in the Middle East in decades

– The South African Legislative Council voted in favor Closing the Israeli embassy and cutting diplomatic relations.

— Government websites in Bahrain were inaccessible for a short period after a A cyber attack on the war between Israel and Hamas.

– Health officials in Gaza say so He lost the ability to count the dead With the intensification of the Israeli attack

– Find more AP coverage on https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Here’s what happens in war:

The United States responds to Iranian-backed militants in Iraq

BAGHDAD – The U.S. military said Wednesday it had carried out strikes against Iranian-backed groups in Iraq that launched attacks on U.S. forces.

Two officials from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq said the strikes hit three locations in the Jurf al-Sakhar area south of Baghdad, killing eight members of the Kataib Hezbollah armed group. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Iran-backed militants have launched dozens of attacks on bases and facilities housing American personnel in Iraq and Syria since October 17. While most of the more than fifteen attacks were ineffective, at least 60 American personnel reported minor casualties. The armed groups said the strikes were in response to US support for Israel in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

US Central Command said in a statement on Wednesday that its forces “conducted separate and precise strikes against two facilities in Iraq… using close-range ballistic missiles.”

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Qasim Abdul Zahra reports from Baghdad.

France hopes that its citizens will be among the first to be released under the agreement

PARIS – The French Foreign Minister said she hopes French citizens will be among the first hostages to be released as part of the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.

“We hope that French citizens will be among them, and even, if possible, among the first group to be released,” Minister Catherine Colonna told France Inter radio on Wednesday morning. “We are working towards it.”

France has counted eight people missing, some confirmed to be hostages, since the attack launched by Hamas activists on Israel on October 7, which sparked their latest and bloodiest war. France also counted 40 dead in the attack. Colonna said that Hamas did not take all the hostages on October 7. But she said that during the negotiations, the armed group said it “could bring all the hostages together.”

The Red Cross stands ready to assist with any exchange

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The International Committee of the Red Cross says it stands ready to assist in any exchange in the war between Israel and Hamas.

“Currently, we are in active talks with the parties to help implement any humanitarian agreement they reach,” the Red Cross said. He added: “As a neutral mediator, it is important to clarify that we are not part of the negotiations, and we do not make decisions on their substance. Our role is to facilitate implementation once the parties agree.”