Israel-Hamas war: ‘War is not over’, IDF warns Gaza civilians as ceasefire begins

In a statement, the IDF said it had completed preparations for receiving the hostages in Israel after they had been released from captivity in the Gaza Strip.

As part of the preparations, they has readied several locations dedicated to initially receive the released hostages, with necessary medical provisions and support. After the initial reception and medical treatment, the released hostages will continue to hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families.

Palestinians in Gaza have spoken of their intense relief at a period of “calmness” that has brought areas “back to life” at the start of a four-day truce – the first respite in a ferocious seven week bombardment. With people emerging from their homes to collect belongings, bury the dead, and locate missing family members.

Under a Qatari-brokered deal, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will be in place during the release of a total of 50 Israeli women and children, held hostage since 7 October when Hamas launched an attack inside Israel during which 1,200 people were killed. In tandem to the hostages being freed,150 Palestinians jailed inside Israeli prisons will also be released.

For families in Gaza the temporary pause marks the first moment of calm after Israel – in response to the Hamas attack – unleashed its heaviest-ever bombardment of the Hamas-run territory.

Read the full article from international correspondent Bel Trew here

The truce with Hamas in Gaza is only a “short pause”, after which Israel would resume operating with full military force, their defence minister Yoav Gallant has said.

Gallant made the remarks to his Italian counterpart who was on a visit to Tel Aviv. He spoke as Israel prepared to receive 13 hostages set to be freed from Gaza, in return for the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners.

“There will be a short pause and then we will continue operating with full military power. We will not stop until we achieve our goals: the destruction of Hamas and bringing home the hostages from Gaza to Israel. There are 240 hostages and it is something we cannot accept and cannot tolerate,” Gallant said.

The Metropolitan Police have said it will be safe for Jewish people to come into London this weekend with both pro-Palestinian and antisemitism protests being held.

A 90-minute march organised by the volunteer-led charity Campaign Against Antisemitism is due to take place in London on Sunday.

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, the Gold Commander in London this weekend, said 40,000-50,000 people were expected to attend the protest, which will start outside the Royal Courts of Justice.

Another pro-Palestinian protest of around 100,000 people marching from Park Lane to Whitehall will also be held on Saturday, as the city enters a busy period in the run-up to Christmas.

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, said on Friday in a recording that the group is committed to the truce and hostage swap deal as long as Israel is committed as well.

The first hostages to be freed from Gaza today will be flown to Israel under military guard, while 39 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released from the West Bank.

Palestinian authorities have released a list of 39 prisoners expected to be released by Israel today, including 24 women and 15 teenage boys.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an advocacy group, said the 39 detainees from the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem will be delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross at Israel’s Ofer Prison near the city of Ramallah.

Their release is to take place after 4pm, when Hamas is due to return 13 Israeli hostages to Israel.

Most of the 15 Palestinian teenagers to be released Friday were arrested over incitement and stone-throwing, as well as the broadly defined charge of “supporting terrorism”. The 24 women include some convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to years-long prison terms for attacks against Israeli security forces.

Watch a live view of Israel’s Ofer prison from where Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released as part of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal on Friday:

France’s foreign minister Catherine Colonna has called for the release of all hostages held in Gaza – including eight French citizens – and a lasting truce between Israel and Hamas.

“It is essential that international law is applied there [in Gaza] as elsewhere,” Colonna said during a trip to Beijing. “All states have the right to defend themselves, but we must cooperate so that terrorism is contained.”

Ms Colonna called for a lasting truce so that “the wounded can be treated, and humanitarian aid can arrive and ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

The eight French hostages in Gaza include three children, while 40 French citizens were killed in the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October, and two French citizens have been killed in attacks on Gaza, according to France’s foreign ministry.

The first hostages to be freed from Gaza today will be flown to Israel under military guard, with measures meant to reduce the duress and attend to any immediate medical complications, Reuters reports.

Ahead of the 4pm release of the 13 hostages, Israel’s air force published images of dolls, colourful throw-rugs and personal hygiene kits set up at locations scheduled to receive them by helicopter.

“Today is the first light at the end of the tunnel,” an air force lieutenant colonel was shown saying in a video briefing. “We are all in this together.”

The World Health Organisation said it would work on further evacuations from northern Gaza hospitals as soon as possible after the ceasefire began, voicing fears for the safety of those remaining in Al Shifa Hospital.

“We’re extremely concerned about the safety of the estimated 100 patients and health workers remaining at Al Shifa,” said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier.

He declined to react to comments from the Gaza health ministry saying it was suspending cooperation with the global health agency amid reports that Israel is holding medical staff for questioning.