Devendra Kumar
A four-day ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war will begin on Friday morning, with Qatar promising to send aid “as soon as possible.” The ceasefire was negotiated after a deal was reached, although details were still being finalized. According to Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, the first batch of civilians held captive by Hamas will be released on Friday, including 13 women and children.
The ceasefire is a welcome development for the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, who have been enduring weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as for families in Israel who have been worried about the fate of their loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ October 7th attack. The attack, which sparked the war, resulted in the deaths of over 14,000 people, with 74% of them being children and women.
The ceasefire also brings relief to the many Palestinians who have been displaced by the conflict, with nearly 80% of Gaza’s population having been forced to flee their homes. However, many of these displaced individuals will be unable to return home due to the widespread damage caused by the war and the presence of Israeli troops in the north.
The truce agreement has not been without its challenges, with a last-minute snag causing a one-day delay in the ceasefire’s implementation. Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, announced the delay without providing a reason. However, al-Ansari said that the two sides had exchanged lists of those to be released, and promised that the aid would be sent to Gaza as soon as possible.
The ceasefire will allow for the release of 50 hostages, with women and children being released first. In exchange, Hamas is expected to release 150 Palestinian prisoners. The truce will also extend an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has vowed to continue its military operations against Hamas, with the goal of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities and returning all of the estimated 240 captives held in Gaza by Hamas and other groups. The delay in implementing the ceasefire has sparked concerns among Palestinians, who hope to use the few days of quiet to visit their homes and reconnect with their families.
The war has had devastating consequences for the people of Gaza, with the country’s health infrastructure severely damaged. The Ministry of Health has reported that more than 13,300 people have been killed, with many more reported missing and feared buried under rubble. The ministry has also stopped publishing casualty counts due to the collapse of the health sector in the north.
As the ceasefire takes effect, humanitarian aid groups operating in Gaza are warning that the country’s urgent needs will not be met during the short four-day truce. Israel has banned imports to Gaza since the start of the war, except for a trickle of aid, and the country’s borders are still largely closed.