Aid begins to trickle in to Gaza as the first pause begins after seven weeks of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. A Qatar-mediated four-day truce has taken effect in Israel’s war on Gaza. The first pause after seven weeks of bombardment has been met with relief by Palestinians. During the humanitarian break in the fighting, which began at 7am (05:00 GMT) on Friday, 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and 50 captives held by the Hamas armed group in Gaza are due to be released. The first releases, which will see 39 Palestinians and 13 Israelis freed, are expected on Friday afternoon.
In the hours preceding the start of the truce, Israeli bombing intensified across the Gaza Strip, with attacks in Rafah and the city of Khan Younis in the south, as well as constant artillery shelling in the north of the enclave. Palestinians rejoiced at the first pause in the fighting, feeling safe from Israeli bombardment for the first time in weeks. There is hope that this short-term pause will pave the way for a longer ceasefire.
Under the truce deal, badly needed aid will be allowed into Gaza. The enclave has been under a total Israeli blockade since the war was triggered by Hamas’s attack on October 7. Egypt has committed to delivering 130,000 litres of diesel and four trucks of gas daily to Gaza over the four days. In total, 200 trucks carrying aid are set to enter Gaza daily. The flow of trucks carrying fuel and gas has already begun, and additional aid will start entering into Gaza. The first captives, including elderly women, will be freed during the truce.
Qatar will monitor the truce in real-time for possible violations. Qatar has an operations room in Doha with direct links to the Israeli military and Hamas. The goal is to address any violations promptly and ensure the truce continues for the four days.
Fighting continued up until the truce, with a hospital in Gaza City among the targets bombed. Both sides have indicated that the pause would only be temporary before the fighting resumes. The Indonesian Hospital in Gaza City was hit, operating without light and filled with bedridden elderly and weak children. The Gaza health ministry reported a wounded woman killed and three others injured.
Israel launched its invasion of Gaza following an attack by gunmen from Hamas on October 7. Israeli tallies indicate that 1,200 people were killed, and around 240 captives were taken. In response, Israel has conducted heavy bombing in the enclave, resulting in the deaths of over 14,000 people, with approximately 40% of them being children, according to Palestinian health authorities.
As soon as the fighting paused, thousands of displaced Palestinians began checking on their homes in central and southern areas of Gaza. Many expressed hopes for longer periods of safety and the ability to return home, even if their homes were destroyed. However, the Israeli military has announced that Palestinians will not be allowed to head to northern Gaza, as their forces will be stationed at the truce lines.
Overall, the first truce in the Israel-Gaza conflict has provided a temporary relief for Palestinians, allowing aid to enter the besieged enclave and the release of prisoners. The hope is that this pause will lead to a longer-lasting ceasefire and bring some much-needed stability to the region.
