Gazza: In a bid to halt the seven-week-long conflict, Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to a four-day truce set to commence on Friday, November 24. Mediators from Qatar announced that the truce will begin at 7 am local time, with the release of the first group of 13 Israeli women and child hostages scheduled for 4 pm. The Qatar Foreign Ministry revealed that the truce would encompass a comprehensive ceasefire in both north and south Gaza.
World powers cautiously welcomed the news, but fighting persisted, including the bombing of a hospital in Gaza City. The truce, described as temporary by both sides, aims to allow additional aid into Gaza and facilitate the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, Majed Al-Ansari, stated that the release of hostages, including elderly women, would continue over the four-day period, with a total of 50 individuals expected to be freed. Simultaneously, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails would also be released, with the specifics pending announcement.
Hamas confirmed the cessation of hostilities, emphasizing a temporary truce, while expressing intentions to escalate confrontations with Israel on various fronts. The group outlined a plan to release three Palestinian prisoners for each of the 50 hostages.
As the truce took effect, fighting intensified, with Israeli jets targeting over 300 locations. The Indonesian hospital in Gaza City faced relentless bombing, operating without light and filled with vulnerable patients. International concern grew over the fate of hospitals, particularly in northern Gaza, where all medical facilities have ceased functioning.
In the lead-up to the ceasefire, clouds of smoke and the sounds of gunfire and explosions marked the war zone in northern Gaza. An Israeli strike on a school affiliated with UNRWA in Jabalia reportedly resulted in 30 casualties, according to Hamas.
The delay in the truce heightened anxiety for Israeli families awaiting information about hostages and added fear for Palestinians trapped in the combat zone. The situation remains complex, with ongoing uncertainty and challenges as the conflict enters a fragile pause.
