A temporary truce between Israel and Hamas has officially taken effect, marking a significant pause in the devastating seven-week conflict that has ravaged the Gaza Strip. The carefully negotiated ceasefire commenced at 7am local time (5am GMT) on Friday, setting the stage for a complex hostage exchange process to begin.
The Hostage Exchange Process
Under the terms of the Qatar-mediated agreement, Hamas is expected to release 13 Israeli hostages—primarily women and children—by approximately 4pm local time. This initial release represents the first phase of a broader exchange that will see at least 50 Israeli hostages freed over the four-day ceasefire period.
In return, Israel has agreed to release 39 Palestinian prisoners—women and teenagers—from Israeli detention facilities. The carefully choreographed exchange represents the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since hostilities erupted on October 7th.
Humanitarian Corridors Activated
The ceasefire has enabled a substantial increase in humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza, where the population has faced severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Aid trucks began entering the southern Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing with Egypt shortly after the truce began.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, confirmed that the pause in fighting would allow for "a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid" to enter the territory, including essential fuel supplies.
Phased Approach and Potential Extension
The agreement includes provisions for extending the ceasefire beyond the initial four days, with Hamas potentially releasing additional hostages at a rate of 10 per day for each extra day of truce. This could see the pause in fighting extended significantly if both parties continue to cooperate.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant emphasised that this represents "a short pause at the end of which the fighting will continue", suggesting Israel's military operations would resume once the hostage exchange is complete.
International Context and Casualty Figures
The conflict began after Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and took around 240 hostages back to Gaza. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has resulted in over 14,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health officials, with widespread destruction across the territory.
The United States has welcomed the ceasefire agreement, with President Joe Biden expressing hope that it could "create conditions for a political solution" to the long-standing conflict.
