The Department of Foreign Affairs expressed hope on Wednesday, calling the four-day truce between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group a "good sign" for the prompt release of the two Filipino hostages.

"Israel knows that we expect the Filipino citizens to be among the first to be released as soon as possible, but their priority is Israeli children and then their mothers," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Eduardo de Vega said in a television interview, referring to the two Filipinos taken hostage by Hamas.

Israel and Hamas terrorists have agreed to a four-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a swap of 50 hostages for 150 Palestinian prisoners.

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

It added that under the deal, the hostages to be freed by Hamas in exchange for the release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners are civilian women and children. The ministry said the number of those released will be increased in later stages of implementing the agreement.

Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, told Agence France-Presse the release of the 50 hostages held by Hamas would be staggered over the four-day truce.

The expectation was that the initial 50 women and children hostages released by Hamas would be followed by further releases to extend the initial four-day truce.

"If by then the Palestinians can commit to an additional number, then the truce can be extended," Ansari said.

Red Crescent workers will facilitate the exchange on the ground, as well as officials from Israel, Hamas and Qatar, Ansari added.

The temporary cessation of hostilities would not come into effect immediately and would "need some time to be prepared on the ground."

Also, part of the deal forged with the help of Egypt and the United States is "the entry (into Gaza) of a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel designated for humanitarian needs."

Qatar, which brokered the agreement, "asked that a cell be established to work on the issue very carefully, very secretly, together with the Israelis," a senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity said.

Qatar hosts a Hamas political office and has behind-the-scenes diplomatic links with Israel. It is also home to the largest US military base in the region.

Biden administration officials had "daily, sometimes hourly, senior level of engagement with Qatar, with Egypt and with Israel on the issue of the hostages," according to the official.

The president entered the talks, holding Zoom calls with victims' families on 13 October, followed by his visit to Israel five days later.

The official said that releasing two American citizens on 20 October was seen as "a pilot process" for the overall negotiations.

Their safe return "gave us some confidence that… Qatar really could deliver through the cell that we had established," the American said.

Soon Mossad Director David Barnea and Central Intelligence Agency Chief William Burns were also deeply involved.                            

WITH AFP