Israel Declares 4-Day Ceasefire for First Exchange of 50 Hostages in Return for 150 Convicted Palestinians
In the morning of November 24, a four-day ceasefire between Israel and the extremist group Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization in the EU and the USA, came into effect. During these four days, approximately 50 women and children from Israel are expected to be released, with around 190 remaining in the hands of Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip. In exchange, Israel will release 150 Palestinians convicted and imprisoned for attacks on Israeli civilians, as reported by the Times of Israel.
The ceasefire was announced on November 21, initially scheduled to begin on November 23, but postponed by a day. The ceasefire regime started at 7 a.m. and will last for at least four days. During this period, Hamas terrorists have pledged to release at least 50 of the approximately 240 hostages they took during the attack on Israel on October 7.
A few hours before the temporary ceasefire, rocket sirens sounded in Israeli cities bordering Gaza, prompting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to launch intensive shelling across Gaza, seeking to make significant advances into Gaza territory in the final hours before the ceasefire.
Qatari mediators also announced that 13 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be released at 4:00 PM, followed by an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners from Israel. During the temporary ceasefire, all military operations in the Gaza Strip are to be halted, and humanitarian aid is expected to be delivered.
Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant characterizes the temporary ceasefire with Hamas as a brief respite, anticipating the resumption of intensive military operations afterward. Gallant emphasizes that the continuation of military actions is necessary to secure the release of hostages, whom, according to the minister, Hamas will not release unless Israel exerts pressure on the group.
"Expect at least two more months of fighting," stated Yoav Gallant during a meeting with Israeli military officials yesterday.
Gallant also underscored that the continuation of military operations is essential for the liberation of hostages.
Israeli military presented evidence that a basement in one of Gaza City's hospitals was used by Hamas for storing weapons and possibly holding hostages kidnapped on October 7. The military demonstrated that the basement of the Rantisi Children's Hospital in Gaza contained Hamas weapons and rooms that were allegedly used for holding hostages.
In one room resembling a living room, curtains hung on the tiled walls, along with a calendar showing shift changes starting from October 7, the day when Hamas militants sent thousands of armed fighters to Israel, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and taking another 240 individuals hostage.