A four-day truce in Israel’s war against Hamas came into force on Friday morning, raising hopes of the release of dozens of hostages held by the militants.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Palestinians held in Israeli prisons will also be released.
The diplomatic breakthrough offers hope for relief for the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip who have been subjected to weeks of Israeli bombing, as well as for families in Israel worried about loved ones captured by Hamas.
The ceasefire began at 7:00 local time and is expected to last at least four days.
During this time, Hamas must release at least 50 of the approximately 240 hostages held by this and other groups. Hamas said Israel would release 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire was initially expected to begin on Thursday morning, but there appeared to be some obstacles and the day before, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi announced a one-day delay without explanation.
On Thursday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said the two sides had exchanged lists of people to be released and that the first group of 13 women and children being held by Hamas would be released on Friday afternoon.
Under the terms of the agreement, 50 hostages will be released in stages, in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners. Women and children will be released first. Israel said the truce would be extended by one day for every additional ten hostages released.
Al-Ansari said expanded aid to the Palestinians would begin flowing into Gaza “as soon as possible.” According to him, hopes are pinned on the agreement that it will become the impetus that will lead to an end to violence.
The truce agreement has raised hopes of an end to a war that has destroyed entire parts of the Gaza Strip and led to a surge in violence in the occupied West Bank.
There were also concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war after the truce expires to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and end its 16-year rule in Gaza.
“We will continue until we achieve all our goals,” Netanyahu said.
According to him, he informed US President Joe Biden about this in a telephone conversation.
The Israeli military said fighting would continue until a ceasefire was ordered. IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said troops would remain in their positions during the truce.
The Israeli military controls much of the northern Gaza Strip, where it says it has destroyed tunnels and much of Hamas’ infrastructure.
