DOHA: Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman has confirmed that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release will begin on Friday morning.
Majed Al-Ansari on Thursday said that the truce will begin at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) on Friday while the first batch of hostages will be handed over at approximately 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) on the same day.
He said initially thirteen people would be freed all women and children from the same families.
The spokesperson went on to say that every day will include a number of civilians as agreed to total 50 in four days.
Israel and Hamas, which have been at war since October 7, had announced an agreement on Wednesday allowing at least 50 hostages and scores of Palestinian prisoners to be released during a four-day period.
The deal, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, will come into effect in stages that can be extended. It will also help to provide assistance to Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
Earlier Israel said a four-day Gaza truce and hostage release will not start until at least Friday, stalling a breakthrough deal to pause the war with Hamas.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry the Palestinian death toll from relentless Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip has reached to more than 14,532. The ministry in a statement said the victims include over 6,000 children and 4,000 women.
The Israeli air and ground strikes have also caused extensive damage to buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches.
The dire situation in Gaza is compounded by an Israeli blockade, severing the region from essential supplies such as fuel, electricity, and water. Aid deliveries to Gaza have reached to a minimum.
