GAZA/JERUSALEM—Israel and the terrorist group Hamas will begin a four-day cease-fire on Friday morning, with the first batch of Israeli hostages freed later that day, according to mediators in Qatar.
The accord, the first in a grueling, nearly seven-week-long conflict, would take effect at 7 a.m. Local time (0500 GMT) and would include a thorough ceasefire in both north and south Gaza, according to a representative for Qatar's foreign ministry.
Aid would begin to enter Gaza, and Israeli captives held by Hamas militants would be released at 4 p.m. Palestinians were expected to be released from Israeli jails as part of the agreement, ministry spokeswoman Majed Al-Ansari told reporters in Doha.
Hamas, which had been anticipated to proclaim a truce with Israel a day earlier on Thursday, declared on its Telegram channel that all hostilities will end.
The Israeli prime minister's office announced on Thursday that Israel has received an initial list of hostages to be freed from Gaza once a truce with Hamas takes effect on Friday.
According to Israeli estimates, Israel commenced its assault in Gaza on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants breached the border barrier, murdering 1,200 Palestinians and kidnapping over 240 captives.
According to the territory's Hamas-controlled health officials, more than 14,000 Gazans have been killed by Israeli airstrikes since then.
Israel has stated that the cease-fire might be extended beyond the original four days if the terrorists release at least ten captives every day.
Both sides have stated that they would resume combat soon the truce expires.
