Ceasefire In Gaza: Qatar Says The Pause Begins At 7Am Friday, First Batch Of Hostage Release By Afternoon

The four-day ceasefire in Gaza, leading the exchange of Hamas held hostages and Israel captivated Palestinians was expected to begin by 7:00 am on Friday. As said by the Qatari official spokesperson Majed al-Ansari, both the parties have come up with an agreement of a temporary humanitarian pause in the war-torn Strip, which will also facilitate an additional food-fuel-water aid to the affected people. The agreement was a result of Qatar brokered negotiatory talks with Israel and the regime admitted to release at least 150 Palestinians also from Israeli jails.

The ceasefire agreement was approved by the Israeli cabinet with Hamas on Wednesday. But it got delayed up to Friday, and as disclosed through a statement by Tzachi Hanegbi, the national security adviser of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Tzachi Hanegbi, “the release will begin according to the original agreement between the parties, and not before Friday”, the Guardian quoted. The contract favoured the release of fifty hostages, 150 Palestinian prisoners, and an additional humanitarian aid to the Strip.

According to Majed al-Ansari, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry of Qatar, the ceasefire would start at 7am local time on Friday. He added that the Qataris were setting up an operations room to monitor the cease-fire and will communicate to the parties in conflict and the International Committee of the Red Cross. “Now everything is in place and we’re ready to go on the ground”, he said.

Major Updates are:

• The two sides had exchanged the list of those to be released on both the sides.
• The hostages will be released in batches.
• First group to be released from Hamas includes 13 women and children. They will be freed on Friday afternoon.
• Increased humanitarian aid to Gaza will cross the border “as soon as possible”, said Majed al-Ansari.
• It is not yet sure when are the Palestinian prisoners will be released by Israel. They are 150 in total and are women and children.
• Israel will extend the truce by a day for each additional batch of 10 hostages released by Hamas.
• As said by Hamas, Israel agreed to dismiss the air operations over the north Gaza from 10:00 am to 04:00 pm each day of the ceasefire and will dismiss all air traffic over the south for the entire truce period.
• Hamas said, Israel will not attack or arrest anyone in Gaza during the period. People can move freely along Salah al-Din Street.
• “No attack, no military movements, no expansion, nothing”, said Qatar.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross will work in Gaza to facilitate the release of the hostages, Qatar said.
• The hostages are expected to be transported through Egypt.
• Trucks with aid and fuel will enter the besieged Gaza Strip.
• Israel will continue attacking Gaza after the four-day period, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The conflict began on October 7 and the Gaza Strip is currently facing severe humanitarian crisis as the Israeli Defence Force continues bombarding the region irrespective of schools, refugee camps, and medical facilities. So far above 11,400 people were killed in the Strip and the United Nations confirmed above 5,000 in the count were children. Gaza’s major hospitals were also going out-of-service and thousands of people were facing drastic blockade of clean water, food, medicines, fuel, and communication possibilities. The four-day truce will help the Strip a temporary halt to the devastating effects of the war, that is now in its seventh week.