The first groups of Israelis and Palestinians have been released under a brokered agreement that brought a temporary halt to fighting in Gaza.
"The war is not over yet," the Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee has said in a message in Arabic to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said:
A truce between Israel and Hamas will begin Friday at 7 a.m. local time (midnight ET), with 13 civilian hostages to be released by Hamas hours later, Qatar announced. More will follow, with a total of 50 hostages freed over four days, while Palestinian prisoners are also released in waves.
Negotiators continue to work on the details of an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cease-fire and the release of hostages and prisoners.
A startling video has emerged showing a daring raid by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, capturing a cargo ship in the Red Sea.
As Israel escalates its military offensive in Gaza, dropping leaflets in southern towns and urging civilians to evacuate, tensions soar with fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis. The situation unfolds amidst fierce clashes and significant casualties, as the world watches anxiously.