In a significant development after seven weeks of intense conflict resulting in thousands of casualties, Israel and Hamas declared a four-day truce on Friday. The agreement, stemming from Hamas’s October 7 raids into Israel, mandates a cessation of hostilities and weapon silence starting at 7:00 am.
Reports suggest that the truce is accompanied by a potential exchange of prisoners for hostages. Qatari mediators disclosed that Palestinian inmates from Israeli jails are slated to be released at 4:00 pm, following the earlier liberation of 13 women and children held captive in Gaza.
Approximately 50 hostages are expected to be released during the four-day truce, while around 190 remain in the custody of Palestinian terrorists. In return, 150 Palestinian detainees are set to be freed. The agreement offers a brief reprieve for the nearly two million residents of Gaza who have endured relentless Israeli bombardment in recent weeks.
Hamas authorities claim that the conflict has claimed the lives of 15,000 people to date, and the UN estimates that 1.7 million out of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced.
As the truce takes effect, thousands of civilians who sought refuge near Gaza’s border with Egypt are preparing to return to their villages at dawn. This temporary cessation raises hopes for de-escalation and provides an opportunity for affected communities to rebuild and recover from the extensive impact of the prolonged conflict.
