GAZA Strip – A four-day pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas has started.
If successful, it will mark the first pause in fighting in almost seven weeks of war.
The temporary ceasefire agreement also includes the release of 50 women and children, some of the around 240 people taken hostage by Hamas during their attacks on Oct. 7.
The first group of 13 hostages will be freed.
In return, Israel has said it will release 150 Palestinian women and teenagers held in its prisons.
The pause in fighting will also bring some relief to 2.2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with the promise of more much-needed aid into the enclave under the deal.
Fighting was continuing up until the final few moments.
Israel has said this isn’t the end of the war – the government has vowed to complete its mission to eliminate Hamas and return all hostages.
Hamas – which Israel, the US and other Western powers class as a terrorist organization – has said the deal will give Palestinians time to recover after an intense Israeli air and ground assault which its government in Gaza says has killed more than 14,500 people. (BBC)
