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, Israel, Nov 21, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

JERUSALEM/GAZA/DOHA - Israel and Hamas on Wednesday confirmed their agreement on a Qatar-mediated proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, lasting four days and which is expected to begin on Thursday morning.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, a Hamas senior official told Al Jazeera on Wednesday that the ceasefire in Gaza will begin Thursday at 10:00 am local time (0800 GMT).

A Palestinian source, who requested to remain anonymous, confirmed to Xinhua that "the news is true."

Abu Marzouk said the majority of the 50 captives to be released during the ceasefire are foreign nationals. Israel and Hamas had agreed to the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinians and the entry of humanitarian aid into the coastal enclave. 

In exchange for Hamas to release hostages, the Israeli side agreed to release Palestinian prisoners and allow more humanitarian aid to enter the besieged enclave, said the Israeli government in a statement.

Under the deal, at least 50 hostages, mainly children and women, would be freed for the release of about 150 female and teen Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, said the statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The Israeli army will allow the residents to move freely from northern Gaza to the southern territories, Hamas said

The hostages will be released in smaller groups over a span of four days, during which "there will be a full cease-fire in the fighting," it said.

Israel is pressing for freeing more children. The cease-fire would be extended for an extra day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas, it said.

Hamas confirmed the four-day ceasefire agreement with Israel on Wednesday.

"After complex negotiations, we have reached a humanitarian ceasefire with Israel. It will include the stop of all military operations in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli army will stop all movement of its military vehicles in all the territories in Gaza," Hamas said in a press statement.

In addition to exchanging hostages, hundreds of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, medicine, and fuel will be allowed to enter all areas of Gaza, it said.

During the ceasefire, Israeli drones will stop operation for four days in southern Gaza, and stop working in the north for six hours a day starting from 10:00 am  until 16:00 pm, it added.

Moreover, the Israeli army will allow the residents to move freely from northern Gaza to the southern territories, Hamas said.

Later in the day, the Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed the ceasefire agreement, which was jointly mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, adding that the starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours.

Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to de-escalating tensions, preventing bloodshed, and protecting civilians through diplomatic efforts.

During the pause, the Israeli forces, including tens of thousands of troops, will remain in the Gaza Strip

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wartime cabinet on Tuesday evening gathered for a special meeting to vote for the deal, followed by a meeting of his extended security cabinet and his government.

The release of Palestinian prisoners is a highly contested issue in Israeli society. As part of the regular procedure in Israel, any potential swap deal that includes the release of Palestinian prisoners needs to be brought for a vote in both the security cabinet and the government.

Live TV broadcasts showed demonstrators carrying posters with photos of their loved ones and chanting "Bring them home!" Several protesters, whose loved ones were reportedly not on the list of hostages supposed to be released in the upcoming deal, burst into tears.

In broadcast statements at the beginning of the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu urged the ministers to accept the deal.

"The decision tonight is a tough one, but it's the right one," he said.

He added that Israeli forces would resume fighting right after the pause "until we achieve our goals: destroying Hamas and returning all of the hostages."

ALSO READ: Xi calls for immediate cease-fire in Gaza

Wounded Palestinian children receive medical treatment at the Nasser Hospital following an Israeli bombardment on Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Nov 21, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

Earlier on Tuesday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the group's officials are "close to reaching a truce agreement" with Israel, and that Hamas has delivered its response to Qatar, according to a report by Israel's state-owned Kan TV news.

ALSO READ: Hamas official says close to reaching ceasefire deal with Israel

More than 240 hostages, comprising civilians, soldiers, children, women and the elderly of various nationalities, were taken to Gaza by Hamas militants in their surprise raid on Israel on Oct 7, during which about 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians. In the massive offensive against Gaza launched by Israeli troops, so far 14,128 Palestinians have been killed, primarily civilians, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry.