As the anticipated four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas gets underway, a Gaza hospital becomes a casualty, bombed just hours before the truce begins. The ceasefire, set to begin at 7 am local time, involves a comprehensive cessation of hostilities in both north and south Gaza.
Israeli forces and Hamas militants are expected to halt their clashes during this temporary ceasefire, while 13 Israeli women and children hostages are slated for release today. However, tensions persist as both sides have signaled a willingness to resume hostilities once the ceasefire concludes.
Here are the key updates on the Israel-Hamas war:
-Ceasefire Details: The truce, commencing at 7 am local time, encompasses both north and south Gaza. The Qatar foreign ministry reveals that aid is expected to flow into Gaza during this period, with the release of 50 hostages, including 13 today.
– Aid Delivery: Hamas announces that 200 trucks carrying aid will enter Gaza during the ceasefire, with a particular focus on transporting fuel.
Prior to the ceasefire, Israeli jets targeted over 300 locations, intensifying the fighting. The Jabalia refugee camp in north Gaza witnessed heightened troop engagement.
– Humanitarian Concerns: Bombing continues to impact hospitals, with an Indonesian hospital in Gaza City reporting ongoing attacks. Gaza’s Nasser hospital, crucial for burn patients, faces an overflow of patients and families seeking shelter.
– Detention of Hospital Chief: Israel detains the chief of Gaza’s largest hospital, Al Shifa, Muhammad Abu Salamiya, accusing him of the facility’s use as a Hamas command center.
– Regional Tensions: Air-raid sirens sound in northern Israel as Hezbollah claims responsibility for firing 48 Katyusha rockets from southern Lebanon.
– Leadership Statements:Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledges to continue the war after the truce, aiming to dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities, end its rule in Gaza, and free 240 hostages.
– Humanitarian Evacuation:Turkey plans to evacuate wounded or sick children and young people from Gaza on Friday.
– Casualty Figures: The ongoing conflict, initiated by Hamas’ incursion into Israeli towns on October 7, has resulted in a toll of 13,300 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis, including civilians.
As the region navigates through this temporary cessation, uncertainties linger about the prospects of a lasting resolution and the enduring impact on the affected communities.
