DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — (AP) — A four-day cease-fire agreement in Gaza and the release of Hamas-held hostages and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel has been delayed by one day, according to a senior Israeli official. The delay was announced by Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, without providing a reason. Some final details are still being worked out, according to Israeli media. The agreement, mediated by Qatar with assistance from the U.S. and Egypt, is expected to provide relief for the over 1.7 million Palestinians who have been displaced by the Israeli bombardment. It also offers hope for the families of those captured during Hamas’ October 7 attack that triggered the war.
The Gaza Health Ministry has resumed counting Palestinian casualties from the war, with over 13,300 reported dead. However, the figures do not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where services and communication broke down earlier this month. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will resume after the truce expires, with the goal of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities and ending its rule in Gaza.
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Under the truce deal, 50 hostages will be released in stages in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners. Women and children will be released first, and the truce will be extended for every additional 10 hostages freed by Hamas. The return of hostages could lift spirits in Israel, where their plight has garnered national attention. Qatar has stated that the cease-fire will allow for the entry of humanitarian convoys and relief aid into Gaza, including fuel. Israel has cut off all fuel imports, causing a territory-wide blackout and leaving homes and hospitals reliant on generators.
The war has had a heavy toll on Gaza, with two-thirds of the dead identified as women and minors. The Health Ministry has reported that around 6,000 people are missing and feared to be buried under rubble. Three-fourths of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have been displaced, and more than 1 million Palestinians are seeking shelter in UNRWA facilities. Israel has barred imports to Gaza since the start of the war, except for a trickle of aid entering through Egypt’s Rafah crossing. Humanitarian aid groups have expressed concern that the truce is too short and that the capacity of the Rafah crossing is insufficient to meet urgent needs.
