By The Associated Press
A four-day cease-fire within the Israel-Hamas conflict started Friday in Gaza as a part of an settlement that Qatar helped dealer. Twenty-four hostages have been freed, together with 13 Israeli residents, 10 Thai residents and one Filipino citizen, Qatar mentioned. Israel launched 39 Palestinian prisoners later within the day.
With the truce deal comes elevated shipments of gas and provides into Gaza — although nonetheless solely sufficient to dent the wants of the two.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who’ve endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, in accordance with assist teams. Israel has agreed to permit the supply of 130,000 liters (34,300 gallons) of gas a day into besieged Gaza for humanitarian wants all through the truce.
More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, in accordance with the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza after a dayslong pause in its casualty report, which it attributed to the well being system’s collapse in northern Gaza making it not possible to offer an in depth rely.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned he’ll press forward with the conflict after the cease-fire expires. Some 1,200 individuals have been killed in Israel, principally through the preliminary incursion by Hamas.
Currently:
— A four-day truce begins, setting the stage for the discharge of dozens of hostages.
— Families of hostages not slated for launch from Gaza throughout present truce face enduring nightmare.
— Palestinians in Gaza looking for refuge from conflict discover their world is shrinking.
— Hezbollah fires rockets at north Israel after an airstrike kills 5 of the group’s senior fighters.
— Thousands led by Cuba’s president march in solidarity with Palestinians.
— Find extra of AP’s protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
Here’s what’s occurring within the conflict:
TEL AVIV — Israel confirmed Friday that it launched 39 Palestinian prisoners consistent with a truce deal that noticed 13 Israeli hostages freed by militants in Gaza hours earlier.
Qadura Fares, who heads an advocacy group for prisoners, mentioned 33 prisoners freed within the West Bank have been handed to a staff from the International Committee of the Red Cross. He mentioned the remaining six have been being free of a Jerusalem lockup.
The releases on either side have been a part of a deal for a four-day truce within the Israel-Hamas conflict that started Friday.
Over the following 4 days, 150 Palestinian prisoners and 50 Israeli hostages are to be freed.
TEL AVIV — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday welcomed the discharge of hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7 raid into Israel, together with 13 Israeli residents, however mentioned his authorities is dedicated to the return of all hostages.
About 240 individuals have been taken within the assault.
Netanyahu described every of the hostages launched as a four-day cease-fire started as “a world of their own.”
He mentioned getting again all of the hostages “is one of the goals of the war and we are committed to achieving all of the goals of the war.”
OUTSIDE OFER PRISON, West Bank — Israeli safety forces fired volleys of tear gasoline Friday at 1000’s of Palestinians from everywhere in the West Bank excitedly awaiting the discharge of 39 Palestinians in alternate for the hostages launched by Hamas from Gaza.
Crowds have been ready for hours exterior Israel’s Ofer Prison within the West Bank, the place the Palestinians are anticipated to emerge at any second.
Shortly after some raucous boys surged by the crowds with Hamas flags, Israeli forces unleashed tear gasoline, sending households bolting in the other way, screaming, coughing and protecting their watery, bloodshot eyes with their shirts.
JERUSALEM — The Israeli army says the hostages launched by Hamas as a part of a cease-fire deal have returned to Israel.
In a press release Friday, it mentioned the hostages have undergone an preliminary medical test inside Israeli territory.
Qatar mentioned a complete of 24 hostages have been freed — together with 13 Israelis.
DOHA, Qatar — Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed the discharge of 24 hostages after seven weeks of captivity within the Gaza Strip.
“Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen,” mentioned Majed al-Ansari, the ministry’s spokesman. Qatar was a key mediator within the hostage launch.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which delivered the hostages from Gaza into Egypt, additionally confirmed the discharge.
The hostages, ladies and youngsters, have been present process medical checks earlier than they have been to be transferred to Israel. They are to be taken to Israeli hospitals and reunited with their households. They’re the primary of fifty individuals to be launched from Gaza throughout a four-day truce that started Friday.
Israel is to launch 39 Palestinian prisoners later Friday, the primary of a complete of 150 Palestinian prisoners to be freed below the cease-fire.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — The Israeli authorities has summoned the ambassadors of Spain and Belgium after remarks by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his Belgian counterpart Alexander de Croo Friday criticizing the bombing of civilians in Gaza and urging recognition for a Palestinian state.
Speaking on the Rafah border crossing in Gaza, Sánchez mentioned the time has come for the worldwide group and the European Union to acknowledge the State of Palestine, and warned that if it didn’t, Spain would possibly accomplish that by itself.
He mentioned it might higher if the EU did it collectively, “but if this is not the case … Spain will take their own decisions.”
He was talking at finish of a two-day go to to Israel, Palestinian Territories and Egypt with de Croo.
Israel has the suitable to defend itself “but it must do so within the parameters and limits imposed by international humanitarian law and this is not the case,” Sánchez mentioned. “The indiscriminate killing of civilians, including thousands of boys and girls, are completely unacceptable.”
GENEVA — The Red Cross says it has begun a “multi-day operation” to reunite hostages and detainees on either side of the battle between Palestinians and Israelis.
The group’s announcement got here as Israeli media reported the Hamas militant group on Friday launched the primary batch of hostages below a cease-fire deal. The deal requires 50 hostages to be freed over a four-day truce, with Israel to free 150 Palestinians in jail.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it should even be ferrying in medical provides for hospitals in Gaza.
WASHINGTON — The lead U.S. improvement company is urging a speedy ramping-up of humanitarian help to battered Gaza for the long run, calling it “urgent and imperative.”
Samantha Power, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, made the decision in a press release Thursday, as a rigorously negotiated cease-fire and hostage launch started within the Gaza Strip.
With 1.7 million individuals in Gaza internally displaced and nearly all the 2.3 million individuals there needing assist, “the scale of humanitarian needs in Gaza is staggering,” Power wrote.
“It is both urgent and imperative that lasting mechanisms be put in place to significantly accelerate the pace of sustained aid into Gaza,” Power wrote.
BAGHDAD — Iranian-backed militias which have launched dozens of rocket and drone assaults on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria in current weeks held their hearth on Friday, the primary day of the a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The lull got here after an escalation this week during which U.S. warplanes killed a number of militants from the highly effective Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah militia in response to the primary use of short-range ballistic missiles in opposition to U.S. forces at Al-Asad Air Base.
Milita spokesman Jaafar al-Husseini mentioned his group is “not necessarily” observing the truce — which solely formally pertains to Gaza — however is “monitoring” the conduct of the United States and can act accordingly.
Kataib Hezbollah and different Iranian-backed militant teams below the umbrella group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq started hanging U.S. services Oct. 17 and have since launched greater than 60 assaults in Iraq and Syria. The militant teams have mentioned they’re retaliating in opposition to the U.S. for its assist of the Israeli offensive in Gaza that has killed greater than 13,300 Palestinians, following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 shock assault that killed about 1,200 Israelis.
Likewise, in southern Lebanon, the place the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has exchanged hearth with Israeli forces all through the Israel-Hamas conflict, a cautious calm prevailed Friday. Some of the greater than 55,000 Lebanese displaced by the combating started returning to examine their homes and companies in border cities.
JERUSALEM — Israeli media say the Hamas militant group has launched the primary batch of hostages below a cease-fire deal Friday, together with 13 Israelis who’ve been held within the Gaza Strip for almost seven weeks.
The media cited Israeli safety officers.
Twelve Thai nationals have been additionally launched, in accordance with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Under a deal negotiated by Qatar, 50 hostages are set to be freed throughout a four-day truce.
Israel is ready to free 150 Palestinians over the following 4 days as a part of the deal. Thirty-nine prisoners are to be freed Friday.
JERUSALEM — Thousands of Israelis gathered in what has been dubbed “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv on Friday night, singing songs to welcome the Jewish Sabbath and watching newscasts on massive screens as they waited to obtain information of the discharge of 13 Israeli hostages slated to be freed.
“My emotions are mixed,” Shelli Shem Tov, the mom of 21-year-old hostage Omer Shem Tov, advised Israeli’s Channel 12 on the sq.. “I’m excited for the families that are going to hug their loved ones, I’m jealous, and I’m sad, mostly sad, that Omer is not coming home yet.”
BANGKOK — Twelve Thai nationals have been launched from Gaza on Friday, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned.
It mentioned the 12 hostages have handed by the Rafah crossing and are on the best way to Israel’s Hatzerim air base, and can then be taken to a hospital.
The ministry says 39 Thai residents have been killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault in Israel and 26 have been taken hostage.
Egypt’s state data service mentioned the 12 Thais is along with 13 Israeli captives who’re to be freed Friday.
BEITOUNIA, West Bank — Israeli safety forces fired tear gasoline at a crowd of Palestinians gathered to greet prisoners who have been to be launched from Israeli jails as a part of a truce between Israel and Hamas, AP journalists within the West Bank witnessed.
Tear gasoline was fired to push away crowds from the neighborhood of Ofer jail, from the place the prisoners have been to be launched in a while Friday.
JERUSALEM — Israel’s overseas minister mentioned Friday that Israel will resume the conflict in opposition to Hamas after a brief cease-fire ends.
A truce within the Israel-Hamas conflict started Friday, setting the stage for the discharge of fifty hostages held by militants in Gaza in alternate for 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The releases are to happen in phases over 4 days.
The truce might be prolonged by a day for every extra launch of 10 extra hostages — an association that might translate into an extended cease-fire. In all, militants from Hamas and different teams kidnapped about 240 individuals of their Oct. 7 assault on Israel.
Israeli leaders have pledged that the conflict will resume.
“Israel will continue its war on Hamas and we will not stop until we achieve our two main goals, overthrowing the rule of Hamas and returning all the abductees back to us, safe and sound,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen mentioned Friday as he toured Israel’s ravaged border areas along with his counterparts from Portugal and Slovenia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have made related pledges.
JERUSALEM — Palestinian authorities have launched an inventory of 39 Palestinian prisoners anticipated to be launched on Friday, together with 24 ladies and 15 teenage boys, in alternate for 13 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an advocacy group, mentioned the 39 detainees from the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem will probably be delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross at Israel’s Ofer Prison close to the West Bank metropolis of Ramallah.
Most of the 15 Palestinian youngsters to be launched Friday have been arrested over incitement and stone-throwing, in addition to the broadly outlined cost of “supporting terrorism.” The 24 ladies embody some convicted of tried homicide and sentenced to yearslong jail phrases for assaults in opposition to Israeli safety forces.
In all, 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed through the four-day truce.
Israel at present holds 7,200 Palestinians charged with or convicted of safety offenses, the Prisoners’ Club mentioned.
It mentioned about 2,000 Palestinians have been arrested for the reason that Oct. 7 Hamas assault on southern Israel that triggered the conflict.
BEIJING — French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna known as Friday for the discharge of all hostages held in Gaza, together with eight French residents, and a long-lasting truce between Israel and Hamas.
‘’It is important that worldwide legislation is utilized there (in Gaza) as elsewhere,’’ Colonna mentioned throughout a visit to Beijing. ‘’All states have the suitable to defend themselves, however we should cooperate in order that terrorism is contained.’’
She known as for a sturdy truce in order that ‘’the wounded may be handled, and humanitarian assist can arrive and ease the struggling of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.’’
The eight French hostages in Gaza embody three youngsters. The French president, overseas minister and protection minister have traveled to the area in current weeks to push for his or her launch and a long-term peace.
Forty French residents have been killed within the Hamas assaults in Israel on Oct. 7, and two French residents have been killed in assaults on Gaza, in accordance with the Foreign Ministry. France has despatched flights and warships to deliver humanitarian assist for Gaza.
JERUSALEM — Israeli forces shot and killed a 12-year-old Palestinian boy within the occupied West Bank, Palestinian well being officers mentioned Friday, as violence surges within the territory below the shadow of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
The boy was killed Thursday within the village of Beita close to the flashpoint metropolis of Nablus within the northern West Bank, the officers mentioned.
The Israeli army mentioned Palestinians threw stones when troopers entered the village and that troops responded with reside hearth. The army mentioned it was trying into the circumstances of the boy’s loss of life.
Since the Israel-Hamas conflict started seven weeks in the past, the West Bank has seen one of many deadliest intervals in at the least 20 years. Israeli troopers and settlers have killed 229 Palestinians, together with 52 youngsters and minors below the age of 18, in arrest raids and violent confrontations, in accordance with U.N. figures.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli troops fatally shot two Palestinians and wounded 11 others as they headed towards the primary fight zone in northern Gaza regardless of warnings by the Israeli military to remain put.
An Associated Press journalist noticed the 2 our bodies and the wounded as they arrived at a hospital within the city of Deir al-Balah within the southern half of Gaza. The injured had been shot within the legs.
Friday’s taking pictures got here hours after the Israeli army warned tons of of 1000’s of displaced Palestinians who sought refuge in southern Gaza to not try and return to their houses within the northern half of the territory, the main target of Israel’s floor offensive.
The army had dropped leaflets on southern Gaza saying that returning to northern Gaza is prohibited and harmful.
Since a four-day truce went into impact Friday morning, tons of of Palestinians have been seen attempting to move to northern Gaza.
Witnesses mentioned Israeli troops are opening hearth on individuals attempting to move north.
Sofian Abu Amer, who had fled Gaza City, mentioned he determined to danger heading north to test on his house.
“We don’t have enough clothes, food and drinks,” he mentioned. ”The scenario is disastrous. It’s higher for an individual to die.”
BEIRUT — The chief of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group mentioned Friday that Israeli troopers among the many 240 hostages held by militant teams in Gaza will solely be launched in alternate for all of the Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Islamic Jihad is reportedly holding about 40 of the hostages who have been captured by Hamas and different militant teams throughout their Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel. Over the following 4 days, 50 hostages are to be launched in alternate for 150 Palestinian prisoners, with either side releasing ladies and youngsters first.
In a televised speech on the primary day of what’s meant to be a four-day truce within the Israel-Hamas conflict, Islamic Jihad chief Ziad Nakhaleh mentioned that “the enemy’s military prisoners will not be released without the freedom of our prisoners and this is linked to the end of the aggression.” He mentioned that Israel can be compelled to “eventually reach a deal of everyone in return for everyone.”
It was not instantly clear how lots of the hostages held in Gaza are at present serving within the army and whether or not the militants additionally contemplate reserve troopers to be army hostages.
JERUSALEM — Israel introduced that 4 tankers with gas and 4 tankers with cooking gasoline entered the Gaza Strip on Friday, the primary day of what’s meant to be a four-day cease-fire.
Israel has agreed to permit the supply of 130,000 liters (34,300 gallons) of gas a day into besieged Gaza for humanitarian wants all through the truce. This can be roughly twice the quantity permitted beforehand, however nonetheless solely a small portion of Gaza’s every day wants, estimated at greater than 1 million liters (264,000 gallons).
For a lot of the previous seven weeks of conflict, Israel had barred the entry of any gas to Gaza, claiming it might be utilized by Hamas for army functions. United Nations assist businesses pushed again in opposition to such claims, saying gas deliveries have been intently supervised and urgently wanted to avert a humanitarian disaster.
JERUSALEM — The Israeli army mentioned Friday it has destroyed stretches of tunnels and quite a lot of tunnel shafts within the space of Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest.
On Wednesday, Israel confirmed a tunnel and rooms that army officers mentioned have been a significant Hamas hideout beneath Shifa. Hamas and hospital workers deny Israeli allegations that Shifa was used as a militant command heart.
On Thursday, Israeli army spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned Israel mapped out Shifa Hospital and plans to destroy all “terror infrastructure” it has discovered.
A short lived truce within the Israel-Hamas conflict took impact early Friday, setting the stage for the alternate of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
The halt in combating started at 7 a.m. native time (0500 GMT) and is to final at the least 4 days. During the truce, Gaza’s ruling Hamas group pledged to free at the least 50 of the about 240 hostages it and different militants took of their lethal Oct. 7 assault on Israel. In flip, Israel is to free three Palestinian prisoners for every launched hostage. The releases are to happen in phases over the following 4 days.
The truce deal was reached in weeks of intense oblique negotiations, with Qatar, the United States and Egypt serving as mediators. If it holds, it might mark the primary vital break in combating since Israel declared conflict on Hamas seven weeks in the past.
About 1,200 individuals have been killed by Hamas attackers in Israel on Oct. 7. Israel responded with an enormous air and floor offensive that has devastated massive swaths of Gaza and killed at the least 13,300 Palestinians.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”