Some of the hostages taken by Hamas are due to be released today.
A brief cease-fire between Israel and Hamas began at 7 am local time this morning. Some of the hostages held in Gaza are due to be released later today. A senior Israeli government official told NBC News that the deal would not have taken place without significant pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu from President Biden, stressing: “This deal was a Biden deal, not a Netanyahu deal.”
Here’s what else we know so far.
How many hostages will be freed today?
According to the Qatari government, which mediated negotiations, the first 13 hostages — all women and children — will be released this afternoon at around 4pm local time. That group will reportedly include members of the same families. President Biden says he has his “fingers crossed” that Abigail Edan, a three-year-old American girl, will be among them.
What happens next?
A total of 50 hostages are set to be released by Hamas over the course of four days, with a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel being freed in waves alongside. An Israeli official told CNN that 39 prisoners will be released today. 300 prisoners have been designated eligible for release, the majority of whom are males aged between 16 and 18.
Israeli troops have reportedly been issued guidance as to how to interact with child hostages, who’ve been away from their homes in as-yet-unknown conditions for seven weeks.
“Children will ask questions such as, ‘Where’s Mum? Where’s Daddy?’ Soldiers should not answer these questions, even if they know the answers. Any questions should be answered along the lines of, ‘Sweetheart, I’m sorry, I don’t know. My job is to bring you to Israel to a safe place, where people you know will be waiting for you and will answer all your questions,'” the advice says per CNN.
Each child and family unit will be assigned an individual soldier. Those personnel have been instructed not to touch or pick up children without first asking their permission, and guidelines are advising a focus on rest, balanced meals, and only moderate activity in the week after their release.
A spokesman for the border crossing told the New York Times that 60 trucks carrying aid have entered Gaza from Egypt since the ceasefire began. Eight of those trucks are reportedly carrying fuel, a significant development in the context of a conflict that’s seen the Strip all but run out.
Will the ceasefire hold out?
It’s hard to say. Per the New York Times, air raid sirens were heard in Israel this morning, but that could be because such pauses take a little time to take effect. As of 5 am ET, the truce appeared to be holding. Israel’s defense minister has however vowed to resume hostilities “forcefully” when the truce is over, and anticipates at least two more months of battle.
