Israel announced late Wednesday that the agreement reached with Hamas to adhere to a four-day truce will not start before Friday. During this truce, the Palestinian movement will release 50 women and children among the hostages it holds in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.
While fighting continued in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, for the 47th consecutive day, reports indicated that the truce agreement would take effect on Thursday morning at 10:00 (08:00 GMT). A Hamas official stated that he expected "the first exchange of ten hostages for 30 prisoners starting from Thursday."
However, Israeli National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi said late Wednesday in a statement that "negotiations for the release of our captives continue without pause," adding that the release of hostages would not begin "before Friday."
**"Humanitarian Ceasefire"**
Qatar, which brokered the agreement alongside Egypt and the United States, announced early Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on a "humanitarian ceasefire," during which the Palestinian movement would release 50 women and children in exchange for the release of "a number of Palestinian women and children" held in Israeli prisons.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that the "start time" of the truce will be announced "within 24 hours and will last for four days, subject to extension." The statement clarified that the agreement would also allow "a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief assistance, including fuel designated for humanitarian needs, to enter."
This announcement from Doha followed the Israeli Prime Minister's office stating that the Israeli government approved the outlines of the first phase of the agreement, under which at least 50 women and children hostages would be released over the course of four days during which fighting would cease.
Hamas issued a statement announcing the achievement of an "agreement for a humanitarian ceasefire (temporary cessation of hostilities) for four days, thanks to the diligent and appreciated efforts of Qatar and Egypt," which includes "a ceasefire from both sides, halting all military operations of the occupation army in all areas of the Gaza Strip, and stopping the movement of its military vehicles that have invaded Gaza."
The statement also noted that the agreement stipulates "the release of fifty women and children under the age of 19 held by the occupation in exchange for the release of 150 women and children from our people from the occupation's prisons under the age of 19," in addition to "stopping flight operations in the south for four days, and stopping flight operations in the north for six hours daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM."
Hamas also stated that "hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian, medical, and fuel aid would be allowed to enter all areas of the Gaza Strip without exception, both north and south."
