MSNBC - The first group of Israeli hostages, 13 women and children, have been released and are in the custody of the Red Cross, a regional diplomat with knowledge of the situation tells NBC News.
A pause in fighting has begun in the Gaza Strip. The planned pause — the first in seven weeks of war that have devastated Gaza — went into effect this morning. A group of 13 hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released today. In total, 50 hostages are set to be freed over a four-day pause in fighting. Israel is expected to release 150 Palestinians from its jails as part of its deal with Hamas.
The deal also lets more aid reach southern Gaza, where Palestinians are facing severe shortages. Trucks carrying supplies could be seen entering the terminal at the Rafah crossing from Egypt. The supplies were then transferred to other trucks that would carry them into Gaza. Qatar said the aid will include fuel but gave no details on quantities. The agreement has raised hopes of eventually winding down the war. But Israel has pushed back against such speculation, saying it is determined to resume its bombardment once the truce ends. Over 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, health officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza say. Vast swaths of the coastal enclave have been destroyed and violence has also surged in the occupied West Bank. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas.
No comments:
Post a Comment