After 7 weeks of war, a truce of at least four days between Hamas and Israel came into force at 7 am. The four-day pause in fighting will be accompanied by the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners, 50 hostages in Gaza and the arrival of aid.
Thirty-nine Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons and 13 hostages in Gaza are expected to be released in the coming hours, while aid trucks are also due to cross into Gaza.
According to Qatari mediators, the first group of 13 Israeli hostages held by Hamas will be released at 4:00 p.m., mostly women and children. Afterwards, 39 Palestinian women and children detained in Israel will be released.
Moments before the ceasefire came into effect, gunfire and mortar fire, as well as an airstrike, were heard near Gaza.
A rocket fired from Gaza after the ceasefire began was intercepted by an Iron Dome air defense battery near the Israeli border kibbutz of Kissuf and Ein Ha-Shlosha'. Alarm sirens had sounded earlier in the area. No damage or casualties are reported.
The Israel Defense Forces warn that the war is not yet over and that the humanitarian pause is temporary.
(A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
