The long-anticipated four-day pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas is due to begin now
The temporary ceasefire was due to start at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and the first group of 13 hostages held by Hamas will be freed at 16:00, according to Qatari mediators
Under the deal, Hamas will release 50 hostages from Gaza over four days and Israel will free 150 Palestinian prisoners
Hamas’s attacks on 7 October killed 1,200 people and saw about 240 taken hostage
Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,000 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory campaign
This is one of the most significant moments since this war began on 7 October.
This is the beginning of a deal that will run over the next four days.
It begins with this ceasefire, it moves on to additional humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza through Egypt, and then we expect to see – if all goes according to plan – the release of the first group of hostages later today.
The temporary ceasefire agreement also includes the release of 50 women and children, some of the around 240 people taken hostage by Hamas during their attacks on 7 October.
The pause in fighting will also bring some relief to 2.2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with the promise of more much-needed aid into the enclave under the deal.
Hamas – which Israel, the US and other Western powers class as a terrorist organisation – has said the deal will give Palestinians time to recover after an intense Israeli air and ground assault which its government in Gaza says has killed more than 14,500 people.
