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

Editorial

Reflection time
Updated 25 Jun, 2026

Reflection time

Israel is the biggest source of instability in the Middle East, and it is high time the US ended its blind support to Tel Aviv, if it genuinely wants peace in the region.
Raised temperatures
25 Jun, 2026

Raised temperatures

THE fraught situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir requires immense patience and cool heads. Temperatures are raised on...
Debatable remedy
25 Jun, 2026

Debatable remedy

THE Pakistan Psychiatric Society’s challenge to the Federal Shariat Court’s ruling on attempted suicide deserves...
Pezeshkian’s visit
Updated 24 Jun, 2026

Pezeshkian’s visit

Perhaps a good place to start would be the resumption of work on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
Telecom bill
24 Jun, 2026

Telecom bill

THERE is now no question about it: the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill of 2026 is a...
Updating Islamabad
24 Jun, 2026

Updating Islamabad

ISLAMABAD is growing rapidly. Its planning, however, remains stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Despite years of ...