TO UPDATE: Some thirteen Israeli hostages will be released from captivity tomorrow when a four-day ceasefire begins.
The truce begins Friday at 7:00 a.m. local time (7:00 p.m. PT) as a hostage crisis unfolds, resulting in the release of 39 Palestinians. It follows an agreement negotiated by regional neighbor Qatar.
The names of those being freed from exile in Gaza have not yet been released by Israel, although some desperate family members have been told their loved ones are not part of the first batch. All that have been released are women and children who are handed over to the Red Cross before being reunited with their families.
Once the 13 are released, Israel will release 39 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. In addition, the agreement provides for a further day’s extension of the ceasefire for each group of ten hostages released and significantly more aid in bomb-ravaged Gaza.
According to the BBC, the ceasefire was supposed to come into effect earlier, but it was delayed when Hamas made new demands.
Israel has promised to resume military operations after the four-day ceasefire expires.
PREVIOUS, 2:00 PT, November 22: The first long six-week lull in fighting in Gaza is imminent, with Israel set to announce the start of a four-day lull in the next 24 hours in exchange for dozens of hostages.
An agreement negotiated in Qatar and ratified by the Israeli government will see the truce take effect after Hamas releases about 50 hostages currently being held in Gaza. Israel will then release 150 Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli custody, while aid agencies bring urgently needed food, water and fuel to Gaza. Temporary pauses will also be imposed today in two areas in the south of the Gaza Strip.
It will be the first ceasefire since October 7, when Hamas killed around 1,400 people and kidnapped more than 200 in Israel, shocking the world. Since then, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has carried out a sustained ground and bombing campaign in Gaza, which has led to the mass evacuation of thousands of people. According to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, more than 14,000 people – including more than 5,000 children – were killed. Recently, the IDF attacked Al-Shifa Hospital, believed to be home to a Hamas control base.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed that the war effort will continue after the four days are up. He previously said that Israel will not stop until Hamas is destroyed. His cabinet met yesterday to approve the agreement.
President Joe Biden said he appreciated Netanyahu’s “commitment” to supporting the pause. Biden described himself as “overjoyed” that some hostages who “endured weeks of captivity and unspeakable ordeal” will be reunited with their families.
Biden was involved in brokering the deal and according to the BBC, around 10 Americans are expected to be imprisoned.
Deadline has spoken to a number of people working in the Israeli entertainment industry whose families have been imprisoned by Hamas in recent weeks. One of them, whose relatives were taken hostage on a kibbutz, said Israeli officials were “struggling with this incredible tragedy.”
The conflict continues to overshadow the world and makes headlines every day. Yesterday, UTA dropped Susan Sarandon for making anti-Semitic comments at a pro-Palestine rally.
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
