The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar, has faced a delay. The agreement, set to commence at 10am local time on Thursday, involved the exchange of 50 women and children held by Hamas in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Israeli officials report a last-minute hitch, pushing back the hostage release.
The agreed-upon ratio stipulates the freedom of up to 150 Palestinian prisoners for every 50 Israeli hostages released. Additionally, the cease-fire could be extended by a day for every ten additional hostages set free, up to a maximum of ten days.
In a strike near Beit Yahoun, the son of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc leader, Mohammed Raad, was among five killed. This incident adds a layer of complexity to an already tense situation.
Six Israeli hospitals are prepared to receive the released hostages in dedicated compounds separate from other patients and the media.
On the international front, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed support for the deal and extended gratitude to Qatari and Egyptian leaders for their mediation efforts. Arab foreign ministers welcomed the cease-fire but urged its extension, viewing it as a potential first step toward a complete cessation of hostilities.
Russia hailed the Gaza cease-fire as a rare positive development in the prolonged Israel-Palestinian conflict. Russian authorities mentioned ongoing ties with Iran but refrained from providing further comments.
Israeli fighter jet intercepted a cruise missile launched by Yemen's Houthis toward the southern city of Eilat.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintained their ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip, announcing the takeover of a Hamas compound in the Sheikh Zayed neighborhood. The IDF also released an image allegedly showing a door leading to a tunnel under Al-Shifa Hospital. Two soldiers were reported killed in the ongoing fighting.
Israeli authorities confirmed the identification of 25-year-old Shani Gabay, missing since Hamas' assault on October 7.
The head of Israel's National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, dismissed media claims suggesting the possibility of Israeli hostages being released by Thursday, asserting that Friday is the earliest such an occurrence can be expected. Hanegbi assured that negotiations for the release of captives are ongoing and emphasized that the release phase of the cease-fire deal with Hamas remains on schedule, with the first tranche of Israeli hostages set to be freed on Friday.
Top Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren calls for an extension of the truce and “enduring end” to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and says it would be “a grave strategic and moral mistake” for Israel to resume the bombings on Gaza after the expected truce.
Students in Melbourne, Australia express their support of Palestine by walking out of their school, with a similar protest planned for Sydney on Friday.
