Qatar announces humanitarian pause in Gaza starting at 07:00 local time
A Humanitarian Interim Process to Begin in Gaza
The Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that a humanitarian interim process between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is set to begin at 07:00 local time on Friday. As part of this process, 13 Israeli hostages, including women and children, will be released at 16:00 local time.
The situation in Gaza has been tense, with the armed wing of Hamas launching a comprehensive attack in response to Israel’s violations against Palestinians, particularly at the Masjid al-Aqsa. The Israeli army has also retaliated with heavy air strikes, resulting in casualties on both sides.
It has been reported that 1,200 Israelis, including over 310 soldiers, have died in the attacks, while 5,132 have been injured. The Israeli army has also suffered casualties, with 70 soldiers killed in clashes in Gaza and 6 on the Lebanese border. Additionally, there are 239 Israeli prisoners in the hands of the Qassam Brigades, according to Israel, while the government in Gaza claims that over 14,000 people, including thousands of children and women, have been killed in the Gaza Strip.
The conflict has not been limited to Gaza, as there have been casualties in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. Hundreds of people have died and been injured in attacks, including raids on hospitals where injured civilians were seeking shelter.
In addition, clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah at the border have resulted in the deaths of 85 Hezbollah members.
Amidst this turmoil, a compromise between Israel and Hamas is expected to provide a humanitarian pause in the conflict. The agreement includes a 4-day ceasefire and the exchange of prisoners – 50 Israeli prisoners held by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
The hope is that this interim process will provide some relief to the ongoing violence and pave the way for further negotiations towards peace in the region.
