Israel-Gaza war: ceasefire, hostage release to start at 7am on Friday

Hello students, there's a significant development in the conflict between Israel and Gaza. A ceasefire and the release of hostages are scheduled to begin on Friday morning, as announced by a spokesperson from Qatar's foreign ministry, Majed Al-Ansari. The ceasefire is set to start at 7am, and the first group of hostages, consisting of women and children from the same families, will be released around 4pm. Over the course of four days, a total of 50 civilians are expected to be freed.

The situation in Gaza has been dire, with ongoing Israeli airstrikes leading to widespread destruction and displacement of residents. However, a temporary ceasefire has been arranged with the help of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. This ceasefire is planned to be implemented in phases and may be expanded upon. The Israeli Prime Minister's office has confirmed they are in touch with the families of the hostages, following the release of a preliminary list of names.

Despite the announcement of the ceasefire, violence continued on Thursday. The conflict, which began on October 7, has resulted in numerous casualties and hostages. The recent agreement, facilitated by international mediators, aims to release at least 50 hostages and a significant number of Palestinian prisoners during a four-day truce. The deal also seeks to provide humanitarian aid to the 2. 4 million inhabitants of Gaza. While the world reacts positively to the ceasefire, hoping for a lasting peace, Israeli military officials have stated that the ceasefire is only a temporary measure, and they intend to continue the conflict until they achieve victory.