A four-day ceasefire in Gaza was implemented on Friday morning as planned – this is the first time the fighting has stopped since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 – with humanitarian aid and fuel tanks reaching the territory as Hamas prepares to release the first 13 Israeli hostages out of 50 expected to be freed during the temporary pause in fighting.
Key Facts
The temporary halt began at 7:00 AM local time on Friday, and reports of violent clashes were reported at the start of the truce, with CNN reporting that “heavy weapon fire” continued in Gaza until around 7:18 AM.
The Israeli army released a video before the start of the temporary pause stating that “the war is not over yet,” according to a translation by BBC News, and warned residents in Gaza that travel is only permitted from the northern part of the territory – which remains a “danger zone” – to the south, where humanitarian areas are located.
Trucks laden with aid began entering Gaza from Egypt about 90 minutes after the ceasefire began, according to video footage from Reuters reported by The Guardian, and the Egyptian government indicated on Friday that 200 trucks carrying food, medicine, and water would be allowed to enter Gaza daily during the temporary pause.
According to the terms of the agreement, 130,000 liters of fuel will also be allowed into Gaza daily, according to the Egyptian government on Friday.
The release of 13 hostages by Hamas is scheduled for 4:00 PM local time on Friday (9:00 AM Eastern Time), and they are expected to consist of women and children under the age of 19 – these are the first 50 hostages expected to be released over the four-day period under the terms of the agreement, while Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Palestinians are now allowed to leave Gaza and enter Egypt during the temporary pause for the first time since fighting began, after previous negotiations only allowed foreign passport holders to leave, and Palestinians who have not been in Gaza since the fighting began will also be allowed to enter through Egypt.
What We Don’t Know
It remains unclear how the four-day temporary pause will unfold, with BBC News noting that “many things could go wrong.” Israeli forces may track down a wanted Hamas commander and may not wish to adhere to the ceasefire to pursue them, or an increase in the number of people attempting to travel north despite orders from the Israeli army, to retrieve belongings or bury deceased loved ones, could lead to military action. Palestinian media reported on Friday that at least seven individuals attempting to access northern Gaza have already been injured by Israeli forces.
What to Watch For
The names of the Israeli hostages to be released on Friday have not yet been disclosed, but it is assumed that the group of 50 hostages scheduled for release during the temporary pause will include at least three Americans, including three-year-old Avigail Eidan, whose parents were killed by Hamas on October 7. Although the ceasefire is expected to last four days, there is an additional clause allowing for one day of fighting to pause for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas. About 240 Israeli and foreign hostages are being held by Hamas. While the ceasefire is considered a significant step in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, it is not expected to put an end to fighting after the temporary halt, as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Thursday that the war is expected to continue for “at least two more months.” “This will be a temporary pause. When it ends, fighting will resume vigorously, and it will create pressure that allows for the return of more hostages,” Gallant said on Thursday during a visit to Israeli forces, according to CNN.
The Number
The Large
14,854. This is the total number of people killed in Gaza since the fighting began, according to the health ministry run by Hamas on Thursday, including 5,850 children. About 1,200 people were killed during Hamas’s attack on October 7 in Israel.
Main Background
The Qatari government announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas, in cooperation with mediators, reached an agreement for a temporary halt in fighting, a significant development after weeks of conflict and escalating destruction in Gaza that intensified calls for a ceasefire. Officials initially stated that the ceasefire would begin on Thursday, but the temporary truce was postponed until Friday as negotiations continued over its terms and logistics. Humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza during the temporary halt comes after Israel cut off fuel supplies, essential goods, and electricity to Gaza during the fighting, with BBC News noting that only 1,399 trucks laden with humanitarian aid were allowed into the territory between October 21 and November 21 – a figure far lower than the average of 10,000 trucks permitted each month before fighting broke out. Although the ceasefire has been welcomed as a positive development, Oxfam told BBC News that the amount of aid that will flow into Gaza during the temporary halt is “virtually not enough.” Residents of Gaza told The New York Times that the temporary halt is welcome but will not solve their problems. Seventeen-year-old Firas Al-Darbi said, “This agreement is not a truce; it is a break for the soldiers,” adding that the agreement will not allow his mother to resume her stopped cancer treatment.
Future Reading
The names of Israeli hostages to be released will be revealed on Friday afterwards, but it is assumed that the group of 50 hostages scheduled for release during the temporary halt will include at least three Americans, including three-year-old Avigail Aidan, whose parents were killed by Hamas on October 7. Although the ceasefire is expected to last for four days, there is an additional provision allowing for one day of pause in fighting for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas. Approximately 240 Israeli and foreign hostages are being held by Hamas. While the ceasefire is considered a significant step in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, it is also not expected to put an end to the fighting after the temporary halt, as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that the war is expected to continue for “at least two months.” “This will be a temporary pause. When it ends, fighting will continue fiercely, creating pressure that will allow for the return of more hostages,” Gallant said on Thursday during a visit to Israeli forces, as reported by CNN.
Main Background
The Qatari government announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas, in cooperation with mediators, reached an agreement for a temporary halt in fighting, a significant development after weeks of conflict and escalating destruction in Gaza that intensified calls for a ceasefire. Officials initially stated that the ceasefire would begin on Thursday, but the temporary truce was postponed until Friday as negotiations continued over its terms and logistics. Humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza during the temporary halt comes after Israel cut off fuel supplies, essential goods, and electricity to Gaza during the fighting, with BBC News noting that only 1,399 trucks laden with humanitarian aid were allowed into the territory between October 21 and November 21 – a figure far lower than the average of 10,000 trucks permitted each month before fighting broke out. Although the ceasefire has been welcomed as a positive development, Oxfam told BBC News that the amount of aid that will flow into Gaza during the temporary halt is “virtually not enough.” Residents of Gaza told The New York Times that the temporary halt is welcome but will not solve their problems. Seventeen-year-old Firas Al-Darbi said, “This agreement is not a truce; it is a break for the soldiers,” adding that the agreement will not allow his mother to resume her stopped cancer treatment.
Future Reading
Future
The names of the Israeli hostages to be released will be revealed on Friday, but the group of 50 hostages scheduled for release during the temporary ceasefire is expected to include at least three Americans, including three-year-old Abigail Aiden, whose parents were killed by Hamas on October 7. Although the ceasefire is expected to last for four days, there is an additional provision allowing for a one-day halt in fighting for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas. Approximately 240 Israeli and foreign hostages are being held by Hamas. While the ceasefire is considered a significant step in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, it is also not expected to end fighting after the temporary pause, as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that the war is expected to continue for “at least two months.” “This will be a temporary pause. When it ends, the fighting will continue vigorously, and it will create pressure that allows for the return of more hostages,” Gallant said on Thursday during his visit to Israeli forces, according to CNN.
The Big Number
14,854. This is the total number of people killed in Gaza since the fighting began, according to the health ministry run by Hamas on Thursday, including 5,850 children. Approximately 1,200 people were killed during the Hamas attack on October 7 in Israel.
Main Background
The Qatari government announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas, in cooperation with mediators, reached an agreement for a temporary ceasefire, a significant development after weeks of fighting and escalating destruction in Gaza that increased calls for a ceasefire. Officials initially said the ceasefire would begin on Thursday, but the temporary truce was postponed until Friday as negotiations continued over its terms and logistics. Humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza during the temporary pause comes after Israel cut off supplies of fuel, essential goods, and electricity to Gaza during the fighting, with the BBC News noting that only 1,399 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid were allowed into the strip between October 21 and November 21 – a number significantly lower than the average of 10,000 trucks permitted each month before fighting erupted. Although the ceasefire has been welcomed as a positive development, Oxfam told BBC News that the amount of aid that will flow into Gaza during the temporary pause is “barely sufficient,” and Gazan residents told The New York Times that the temporary halt is welcome but will not resolve their problems. Seventeen-year-old Firas Darbi said, “This agreement is not a truce; it’s a break for the soldiers,” adding that the agreement would not allow his mother to resume her halted cancer treatment.
Future Reading
The names of the Israeli hostages to be released will be revealed on Friday, but the group of 50 hostages scheduled for release during the temporary ceasefire is expected to include at least three Americans, including three-year-old Abigail Aiden, whose parents were killed by Hamas on October 7. Although the ceasefire is expected to last for four days, there is an additional provision allowing for a one-day halt in fighting for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas. Approximately 240 Israeli and foreign hostages are being held by Hamas. While the ceasefire is considered a significant step in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, it is also not expected to end fighting after the temporary pause, as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that the war is expected to continue for “at least two months.” “This will be a temporary pause. When it ends, the fighting will continue vigorously, and it will create pressure that allows for the return of more hostages,” Gallant said on Thursday during his visit to Israeli forces, according to CNN.
The NumberThe Big Number
14,854. This is the total number of people killed in Gaza since the fighting began, according to the Health Ministry run by Hamas on Thursday, including 5,850 children. About 1,200 people were killed during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
Main Background
The Qatari government announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas, in cooperation with mediators, have reached a deal for a temporary halt in fighting, a significant development after weeks of conflict and escalating destruction in Gaza that heightened calls for a ceasefire. Officials initially stated that the ceasefire would begin on Thursday, but the temporary truce was postponed until Friday as negotiations on its terms and logistics continued. Humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza during the temporary halt comes after Israel cut off fuel, essential goods, and electricity supplies to Gaza during the fighting, with the BBC News noting that only 1,399 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed into the region between October 21 and November 21 – a number far below the average of 10,000 trucks per month permitted before the outbreak of hostilities. Although the ceasefire has been welcomed as a positive development, Oxfam told BBC News that the amount of aid that will flow into Gaza during the temporary halt is “almost not enough” and residents of Gaza told the New York Times that the temporary halt is welcome but will not solve their problems. Seventeen-year-old Firas Al-Darbi stated, “This agreement is not a truce; it’s a break for the soldiers,” adding that the agreement would not allow his mother to resume her interrupted cancer treatment.
Looking Ahead
The names of the Israeli hostages to be released will be revealed on Friday, but it is assumed that the group of 50 hostages scheduled to be freed during the temporary halt will include at least three Americans, including three-year-old Avigail Eidan, whose parents were killed by Hamas on October 7. Although the ceasefire is expected to last for four days, there is an additional provision allowing for one day of fighting cessation for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas. Approximately 240 Israeli and foreign hostages are being held by Hamas. While the ceasefire is considered a significant step in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, it is not expected to put an end to fighting after the temporary pause, as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Thursday that the war is expected to continue for “at least two months.” “This will be a temporary halt. When it ends, fighting will continue vigorously, creating pressure that will allow for the return of more hostages,” Gallant said during a visit to Israeli troops, according to CNN.
The Big Number
14,854. This is the total number of people killed in Gaza since the fighting began, according to the Health Ministry run by Hamas on Thursday, including 5,850 children. About 1,200 people were killed during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
Main Background
The Qatari government announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas, in cooperation with mediators, have reached a deal for a temporary halt in fighting, a significant development after weeks of conflict and escalating destruction in Gaza that heightened calls for a ceasefire. Officials initially stated that the ceasefire would begin on Thursday, but the temporary truce was postponed until Friday as negotiations on its terms and logistics continued. Humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza during the temporary halt comes after Israel cut off fuel, essential goods, and electricity supplies to Gaza during the fighting, with the BBC News noting that only 1,399 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed into the region between October 21 and November 21 – a number far below the average of 10,000 trucks per month permitted before the outbreak of hostilities. Although the ceasefire has been welcomed as a positive development, Oxfam told BBC News that the amount of aid that will flow into Gaza during the temporary halt is “almost not enough” and residents of Gaza told the New York Times that the temporary halt is welcome but will not solve their problems. Seventeen-year-old Firas Al-Darbi stated, “This agreement is not a truce; it’s a break for the soldiers,” adding that the agreement would not allow his mother to resume her interrupted cancer treatment.
Looking Ahead
Future
The names of the Israeli hostages to be released will be revealed on Friday, but it is assumed that the group of 50 hostages scheduled for release during the temporary ceasefire will include at least three Americans, including three-year-old Abigail Aidan, whose parents were killed by Hamas on October 7. Although the ceasefire is expected to last for four days, there is an additional provision that allows for a one-day pause in fighting for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas. Approximately 240 Israeli and foreign hostages are being held by Hamas. While the ceasefire is considered a significant step in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, it is not expected to put an end to the fighting after the temporary halt, as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant stated on Thursday that the war is expected to continue for “at least two more months.” “This will be a temporary halt. When it ends, the fighting will resume with vigor, and it will create pressure that allows for more hostages to return,” Galant said on Thursday during a visit to Israeli forces, according to CNN.
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