Qatar says release of Israeli hostages to begin on Friday

A four-day Israel-Hamas truce will begin on Friday morning, mediator Qatar announced on Thursday. Hamas and the Israeli prime minister's office confirmed the news shortly afterwards.

Relatives and friends of those kidnapped during the 7 October Hamas bloody cross-border attack in Israel, hold photos of their loved ones during a protest calling for their return outside the Knesset, Israel's parliament in Jerusalem. AP - Leo Correa

A pause in the fighting will begin at 7am local time and the first batch of civilian hostages held in Gaza since October 7 is set to be handed over around 4pm Friday.

Under the deal, a humanitarian pause will be followed by releases of an initial 50 hostages from Israel and 150 Palestinian prisoners.

All of those to be released under the three-to-one ratio are either women or aged 18 and under.

Four fuel trucks and 200 aid trucks will also reportedly be allowed to enter Gaza each day.

France had earlier urged the immediate release of all hostages. “We call for the terms of this agreement to be fully respected,” said Anne-Claire Legendre, spokeswoman for the foreign ministry.

Delay over 'last minute details'

The truce had been put back over "the names of the Israeli hostages and the modalities of their release", said an Israeli official with knowledge of the negotiation process.

The delay was due to "last minute" details over which hostages would be released and how.

Leading international NGOs said the truce period is too short and warned that the management of humanitarian operations in Gaza would be difficult.

• Israel, Hamas agree ceasefire and release of 50 hostages held in Gaza  

Weeks of war

The agreement follows weeks of war in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on 7 October, which Israeli officials say killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw around 240 taken hostage.

The Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip says more than 14,000 people have died in Israel's assault, most of them women and children.

The delay is a hammer blow to families desperate to see their loved ones return home, and to two million-plus Gazans praying for an end to 47 days of war and deprivation.

Netanyahu has backed the agreement with Hamas, but vowed the truce will be temporary and will not end the campaign to destroy Hamas.

The agreement was met by despite fierce opposition from some within Netanyahu's right-wing government.

Minister for National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir described the deal as a "historic mistake" that would embolden Hamas and risk the lives of Israeli troops.

(with AFP)