On the first day of the Israel-Hamas truce, the Hamas militant group released the first batch of hostages on Friday (November 24), including 13 Israelis who have been held in the Gaza Strip for nearly seven weeks.
According to the Israeli media, the Israeli security officials informed that twelve Thai nationals held captive by Hamas were also released from Gaza. Notably, as many as 50 captives are set to be freed during a four-day truce.
The agreement provided the initial relief for the besieged residents of Gaza and paved the way for crucial aid to be delivered. The agreement encompasses the liberation of numerous hostages held by militants and Palestinians detained by Israel.
Israel plans to release 150 Palestinians in the next four days as part of an agreement, with 39 prisoners scheduled for release on Friday.
No reports of fighting emerged in the hours following the initiation of the truce. The agreement brought relief to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, who have faced weeks of Israeli bombardment and shortages of essential supplies. It also provided comfort to families in Israel concerned about loved ones captured during Hamas’ October 7 attack, which served as a trigger for the war.
Four-day truce between Israel and Hamas
A four-day truce between Israel and Hamas commenced today, facilitating the much-needed delivery of aid to Gaza and paving the way for the liberation of numerous hostages held by militants and Palestinians detained by Israel.
Under the truce agreement, there is a surge in the transportation of fuel and supplies into Gaza—although aid groups assert that it remains insufficient to meet the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians enduring weeks of Israeli bombardment.
As part of the truce terms, Israel has agreed to permit the daily delivery of 130,000 liters of fuel into the besieged Gaza for humanitarian purposes.
Over 13,300 Palestinians killed in Gaza
The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza informed that over 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, citing a temporary pause in the casualty report due to the collapse of the health system in northern Gaza. The ministry states that the breakdown makes it impossible to provide a detailed count.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed the intention to continue the war after the cease-fire expires, noting that approximately 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, primarily during the initial incursion by Hamas.