Click to see full-size image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
The temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip agreed upon by Israel and the Hamas Movement will kick off on the morning November 24, Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry announced.
“The pause will begin at 7:00 am on Friday … and the first batch of civilian hostages will be handed over at approximately 4:00 pm on the same day,” the spokesman said on November 23 afternoon, adding that the number of people freed will be thirteen.
Al-Ansari also said that Doha received the list of names of the civilians Hamas will free on the first day of the ceasefire, out of at least four groups.
Asked about other countries’ hostages, the spokesman said that the initial focus “was on getting the women and children out of harm’s way” as a priority, and spoke about the idea of “expanding the pause through the formula of getting more hostages out.”
According to al-Ansar, the ultimate goal for the ceasefire is to end “with a lasting truce” in Gaza. He didn’t clarify if the Israelis agreed on this objective.
After the Qatari announcement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Israel has received an “initial” list of names of hostages expected to be freed.
“The relevant officials are checking the details of the list and are currently in contact with all families,” the office said in a statement.
Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, also confirmed that the ceasefire will go into effect on November 24 morning and last for four days.
“In four days, 50 hostages will be released,” the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement, also confirming information from Israel that three Palestinian prisoners will be freed in exchange for every Israeli hostage.
The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades also said that Israeli warplanes will cease completely case operations over southern Gaza during the ceasefire. The warplanes will also halt flights over the northern part of the Strip for six hours a day.
In addition, 200 trucks carrying food and medical supplies and another four loaded with fuel and cooking gas will enter Gaza on every day of the ceasefire, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
The ceasefire, which was brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, will be the first since the war in Gaza broke out after the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel. It is expected to ease the humanitarian situation in the Strip, where more than 14,500 people have been killed so far.
Heavy clashes continued in Gaza even after Israel and Hamas first announced the agreement on November 22. The Israeli Defense Forces didn’t slow down ground operations or decrease strikes. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and other Palestinian armed factions also continued operations against Israeli troops and carried out several rocket attacks.
The upcoming temporary ceasefire will be a win for Hamas. However, the war in Gaza is still far from being over. Israeli officials appear to be determined to continue ground operations in the Strip until Hamas and other armed factions there are neutralized.
