The situation in Gaza seems to be moving towards a period of ceasefire after a number of agreements were made. After a serious deliberation between Israel and the Hamas terror group, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, a four-day ceasefire began at 7 a.m. local time. Israel warned Gazans to avoid the north of the enclave during this period to ensure their safety.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Egypt has announced its intention to send large amounts of aid including diesel, gas, food, and water into Gaza, through multiple truckloads on a daily basis. There is anticipation that 50 Israeli hostages will also be included in the ceasefire deal. The first group of 13 hostages is expected to be released at 4 p.m. local time after families have been informed about the release.
During the ceasefire, wounded Gazans will be treated in Egypt, with foreigners and people with dual citizenship being assisted in traveling to the countries of which they are nationals. For the first time, Egypt will allow Palestinians to enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. In addition, the IDF announced that Egypt is facilitating the transfer of essential humanitarian aid to U.N. aid organizations via the Rafah crossing.
The Israeli military warned the residents of Gaza not to be in the northern Gaza area during this period, as it is considered unsafe. This is after the Israeli military took actions to destroy a route of underground terrorist tunnels in the area. Israel has also refused to release Palestinians convicted of murder.
Egyptian officials announced that they are also working on collecting data about the remaining hostages and considering the possibility of releasing more hostages. They will also work on extending the ceasefire period and gathering information about the remaining hostages. Overall, the goal is to maintain the peace and explore ways to resolve the ongoing conflict.