A four-day pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas has come into effect with both sides saying the pause is temporary. The Israeli military continued their operation right up until the ceasefire began. 13 women and children taken hostage by Hamas are to be released later today. They will be the first of the 50 to be released over four days.
Meanwhile, 200 lorries carrying aid, four fuel tankers and four lorries carrying cooking gas will be allowed to enter Gaza via Egypt’s Rafah crossing on each of the four days. Cairo said, around 1,30,000 litres of diesel will be allowed in Gaza each day. Israel has confirmed that it has received an initial list of names of people who will be released from Gaza.
Israel and Hamas came to an agreement on Wednesday to a ceasefire in Gaza for at least four days to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and release at least 50 hostages held by Hamas in the enclave in exchange for at least 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
