Ceasefire Initiates in Israel-Hamas Conflict; Release of 13 Hostages Planned: A temporary ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas militants is set to commence today, lasting four days. Thirteen Israeli women and children hostages are expected to be released during this period. Prior to the ceasefire, a hospital in Gaza was reportedly targeted. Both parties have agreed to resume hostilities after the temporary pause.
Updates For the Israel-Hamas conflict:
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Ceasefire Details:
- The truce is scheduled to begin at 7 am local time, encompassing a comprehensive ceasefire in both north and south Gaza.
- Aid is expected to flow into Gaza, and the first group of hostages is set to be released by 4 pm local time. A total of 50 hostages will be released over the next four days, and Palestinians will also be released from Israeli jails.
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Humanitarian Aid:
- Hamas has announced that 200 trucks carrying aid, including fuel, will enter Gaza daily.
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Ongoing Violence:
- Prior to the ceasefire, the conflict escalated, with Israeli jets targeting over 300 locations and ground troops engaging in fighting around the Jabalia refugee camp in north Gaza.
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Impact on Hospitals:
- An Indonesian hospital in Gaza City reported continuous bombing, with Gaza health officials stating that the hospital operated without light and was filled with bedridden individuals, including children.
- Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, which treats burn patients, faced an overflow of patients and families seeking shelter.
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Israeli Actions:
- Israel detained the chief of Gaza’s largest hospital, Al Shifa, accusing him of involvement in using the hospital as a Hamas command center. Hamas condemned the arrest, alleging that Israel aimed to remove the remaining patients.
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Cross-Border Attacks:
- Air-raid sirens sounded in northern Israel as Hezbollah claimed to have fired 48 Katyusha rockets from southern Lebanon.
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Future Plans:
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war after the truce, aiming to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza, and free 240 hostages.
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International Response:
- Turkey’s health ministry announced plans to evacuate wounded or sick Gaza children and young people.
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Casualties and Background:
- Since Hamas entered Israeli towns on October 7, a total of 14,500 people, including 13,300 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis, have lost their lives. The conflict began with Hamas using motor gliders, boats, and trucks, leading to Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip and imposing restrictions on fuel, electricity, and water supplies.
The situation remains complex, with uncertainties regarding the evolving dynamics during and after the ceasefire.