Secrecy and public anger: how the Israel/Hamas ceasefire deal came about
by Julian Borger in Washington, Jason Burke in Jerusa from World news | The Guardian on (#6GK9B)
Increasing pressure from the US and from the families of Israeli hostages were vital in securing agreement for the four-day truce
The hostage deal that was finally agreed by the Israeli cabinet in the early hours of Wednesday was very similar in outline to what was on the table a month ago, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
In the intervening weeks, a lot has happened to turn the proposal to exchange women and children prisoners during a ceasefire into a near-reality.
Continue reading...