4-Day Ceasefire Begins in Gaza; Hostages to Be Released in the Afternoon

By Yoni Weiss

Friday morning marked the commencement of a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with the completion of IDF deployment along the ceasefire lines. Fuel-laden trucks commenced entry into the Strip via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

As reported by Israeli media, the Israeli Prisons Service initiated the processing of 39 Palestinian prisoners for release. Scheduled for transfer to the Ofer Prison at noon, these prisoners, including women and minors, are set to return to their homes in Yehudah, Shomron, and eastern Yerushalayim.

Hamas has consented to release the initial 13 hostages on Friday at 4:00 PM.

Preceding the ceasefire, Israeli forces took action by destroying numerous Hamas terror tunnels beneath and in proximity to the Shifa Hospital.

Moreover, the IDF issued a warning to Palestinians, advising against the immediate return to their homes in northern Gaza.

After the ceasefire took effect, several sirens sounded in two Israeli villages outside the southern Gaza Strip, warning of possible incoming Palestinian rockets. An Israeli government spokesman said Hamas had carried out a rocket launch in violation of the truce, but there were no immediate reports of damage.