Gaza: First Truce In 48 Days

After lengthy negotiations, a truce came into force in the Gaza Strip. This is the first stop of the conflict in 48 days of attacks that have devastated the strip.

Both sides warned that the war was far from over in any case. The truce is due to last four days, and the release of the first 13 Israeli hostages is expected in the afternoon of November 24 – these should be women and children. Once the first Hamas hostages are released, 39 prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons, also women and minors, who will be transferred to Ofer prison in the West Bank shortly before noon and then released in the West Bank or East Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army warned refugees not to return to the north of the strip, despite the days of truce. “The war is not over yet; the humanitarian pause is temporary. The northern part remains a war zone. It’s very dangerous, don’t go north,” explained an Israeli army representative. The return route, to the south, is still possible. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, some Palestinian officials instead suggested that the displaced people return to their homes. One of the agreements provides for the displaced population to remain in the south.

There is news from Egyptian sources that two hundred trucks with food, medicine, and water are ready to enter Gaza from the Rafah checkpoint (the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt), and there are also tanks with fuel. Although both Hamas and Israel have complained of some violations, the truce appears to be holding for now.

“This is a small step, but we had to start somewhere. There is hope that it may lead to real de-escalation and then to a discussion of lasting peace,” one of the Qatari negotiators told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. The truce came after more than 40 days of negotiations under the control of this particular Persian Gulf country.