A temporary truce period between Israel and Hamas has begun – with the first group of Israeli women and children due to be released later today.
There has been no official word from either side as to whether there has been a pause in the fighting – however, the truce period was due to start at 7am local time (5am UK).
The handover of up to 50 Israeli captives is expected to be carried out in stages as the temporary pause in hostilities gets under way.
The agreement – brokered by Qatari mediators – will see a halt to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) bombardment of Gaza to allow a swap of hostages for Israeli prisoners.
As many as 30 Palestinians being held in Israeli jails are due to be sent in the opposite direction.
The temporary truce is expected to last for four days.
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‘The aid will go in at 7am’
Alongside the exchange of hostages and prisoners, aid will be allowed into Gaza after the seven-week siege saw fuel and medical supplies cut off.
The first hostages are due to be freed at 4pm local time (2pm UK) this afternoon, followed by the next stages of the agreement.
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The deal was finalised after weeks of negotiations involving Qatari mediators and backed by US President Joe Biden.
Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas gunmen stormed across the border fence on 7 October – killing 1,200 people and seizing about 240 hostages.
More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s bombardment began, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
