Israel and Hamas commenced the four day Gaza truce on Friday. Hamas will release 13 Israeli women and child hostages. Importantly, humanitarian aid would flow into the besieged Gaza enclave.
Mediators in truce – Qatar said that the truce involves a comprehensive ceasefire in north and south Gaza, followed by the release of 200 hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack inside Israel. In exchange, Israel would set free a number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. Hamas and Israel have signalled the pause would be temporary before war resumes.
Gaza hospital reeled under relentless bombing and operated without power. Gaza health officials said that bedridden old people & children were too weak to be moved.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said in Doha that additional aid would start flowing into Gaza & the first hostages (including elderly women) would be freed at 4 p.m. Egypt said 130,000 litres of diesel and four trucks of gas will be delivered daily to Gaza when the truce starts.