A temporary truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza will start on Friday at 7am local time (4pm AEDT), with a first batch of hostages to be released at 4pm (1am AEDT Saturday), according to Qatar and confirmed by Hamas.
Gaza health officials said that 13,300 people have been killed since the start of the war, and at least 6,000 people have been reported missing and are feared to be buried under rubble.
Here are the latest developments:
Hamas and mediator Qatar says truce in Gaza to start on Friday
The temporary four-day truce between Israel and Hamas, negotiated under a hostage exchange deal, will begin on Friday at 7am local time, a spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.
The first batch of hostages would be released later in the day at 4pm, spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said.
Mr Ansari told reporters in Doha the lists of all civilians that would be released from Gaza had been agreed, which was confirmed by Israel in a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.
He said the truce in Gaza would include a comprehensive ceasefire in both north and south of the strip.
On its Telegram channel, Hamas’s armed wing confirmed the time, saying that all hostilities from Palestinian groups will pause for four days.
The pause in fighting was original set to begin Thursday morning, but Israel announced a delay late Wednesday.
The deal will see the exchange of 50 Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, as well as the entry of more desperately needed humanitarian aid.
According to Hamas, 200 aid trucks and four fuel trucks will enter the strip daily during the ceasefire.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that on the fourth day of the temporary truce, it hopes to negotiate a subsequent agreement to release additional hostages from Gaza.
Qatar is aiming for a permanent truce, Mr Ansari said.
ABC/Wires