Four-day Gaza truce begins after intense Israeli bombing, prisoner swap to follow
Gaza, The Gulf Observer: A four-day truce in the Israeli war on Gaza has started with hostages to be released in exchange for prisoners, the first major reprieve in seven weeks of conflict that have claimed thousands of lives.
After prolonged negotiations, deliberations and delay, the pause was due to begin at 7:00 am (0500 GMT), silencing guns that have raged since Hamas’s attack into Israeli towns near Gaza on October 7.
The start of the truce is set to be followed by the release of a first group of 13 hostages being held in Gaza, and an undefined number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, according to Qatari peacebrokers.
For Gaza’s two million-plus Palestinians, the deal spells a respite from relentless Israeli bombardments, which have killed more than 14,500 people and displaced countless more.
