Israel and Hamas Begin Four-Day Pause in Gaza Fighting
A long-anticipated four-day pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas has come into effect, with both sides saying the pause is temporary.
Under the deal – which has been mediated by Qatar – 13 Israeli hostages are due to be released later today, with 50 being released over the four days.
As part of the agreement, Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Small arms and mortar fire, as well as an air strike, were heard by a BBC reporter close to Gaza moments before the pause was due to come into effect.
Lorries carrying medical supplies, fuel, and food have made their way into Gaza from Egypt, with Cairo saying 130,000 liters of diesel will be delivered daily.
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron is meeting Palestinian leaders today and says Britain is looking into all avenues to get support into Gaza.
A U.S. State Department official called the truce a hopeful moment but said work would continue to free all the hostages.
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Hamas – which had been expected to declare a truce with Israel a day earlier on Thursday only for negotiations to drag on – confirmed on its Telegram channel that all hostilities from its forces would cease.
But Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing, later referred to this temporary truce in a video message that called for an escalation of the confrontation with (Israel) on all resistance fronts, including the Israeli-occupied West Bank where violence has surged since the Gaza war erupted.
Israel’s military said its troops would stay behind a ceasefire line inside Gaza, without giving details of its position.
These will be complicated days and nothing is certain… Even during this process, there could be changes, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.
Control over northern Gaza is the first step of a long war, and we are preparing for the next stages, he added. Israel had received an initial list of hostages to be freed and was in touch with families, the prime minister’s office said.
Israel launched its devastating invasion of Gaza after gunmen from Hamas burst across the border fence on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing about 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Since then, some 13,000 Gazans have been killed by Israeli bombardment, around 40% of them children, according to Palestinian health authorities. However, they have said it has become increasingly difficult to keep an up-to-date tally as the health service has buckled under the Israeli bombardment.
People are exhausted and are losing hope in humanity, U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said after a visit to Gaza, referring to unspeakable suffering in the enclave.
