Israel and Hamas have entered a four-day truce with the Palestinian fighters set to release a first group of hostages later in the day and increased aid to flow into the besieged Gaza Strip — the first pause in a nearly seven-week-old escalation.

According to Reuters, the truce’s scheduled start was 7am (10am Pakistan time). A number of Palestinians are expected to be released from Israeli jails later in the day as part of the ceasefire.

 People flee following an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov 23, 2023. — AFP
People flee following an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov 23, 2023. — AFP

Opinion

A long war?

A long war?

Both sides should have a common interest in averting a protracted conflict but the impasse persists.

Editorial

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