Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in north Gaza, as seen from southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 23, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
A cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is scheduled to commence on Friday at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT), according to a spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry. The truce encompasses both the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip, with the first group of hostages, comprising 13 women and children, set to be released at 4 p.m. As part of the agreement, a total of 50 hostages will be released over a four-day period.
The truce aims to facilitate the release of 50 women and children hostages held by militants since the October 7 raid into Israel. In return, 150 Palestinian detainees from Israeli jails are expected to be released. While the initial pause in hostilities is set for four days, Israel has indicated that the truce could extend if militants adhere to a daily release of at least 10 hostages.
Details on the number of Palestinian women and children to be released from Israeli jails on Friday remain undisclosed. The spokesperson emphasized that Qatar anticipates their release as part of the reciprocal agreement. An operations room in Doha will monitor the truce and hostage release, maintaining direct and real-time communication with Israel, the Hamas political office in Doha, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The spokesperson underscored the importance of a clear line of communication through the operations room to ensure a safe environment for the hostage transfer. Qatar aspires to leverage the truce to negotiate a subsequent agreement for the release of additional hostages from Gaza by the end of the four-day period. The overarching goal is to create an opportunity for broader efforts toward a lasting and permanent truce.
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