- Details of the key points of the humanitarian truce deal
The armed wing of Hamas says four of its leaders have been killed, including the commander of the north Gaza brigade, Ahmad Al Ghandour.
In a message on Telegram, it said Al Ghandour was also a member of its military council.
The other three leaders, who Hamas said were martyred include Wael Rajab, Raafat Salman and Ayman Siyam.
It is not clear when they died, and Israel has not commented.
And Israel is looking forward to the end of the humanitarian truce as it has vowed to return to its military operations in Gaza “with determination” once the truce is over, a senior officer has said.
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Chief of the General Staff, said those operations would be in pursuit of the “continued release of the hostages and the complete dismantlement of Hamas”.
He was quoted by the IDF as saying: “We have created conditions for the framework for the release of the first group of children and mothers held hostage during this pause.
“When the framework is completed, we will return to our operations with determination.”
Meanwhile, the release of the second group of hostages was delayed for hours on Saturday after Hamas said Israel had reneged on the truce deal by not sending enough aid into Gaza.
Israel, in turn, accused Hamas of playing games, flexing its muscles to show it’s calling the shots.
Here are the key points of the deal, according to statements by Israel’s government and Hamas:
- 50 Israeli women and children held by Hamas in Gaza to be released over four days during which there will be a pause in the fighting;
- For every additional 10 hostages released thereafter there will be another day’s pause in the fighting;
- 150 Palestinian women and people under the age of 19 held in Israeli prisons to be freed;
- Humanitarian relief, medical and fuel aid to be allowed into all areas of Gaza;
- Aerial surveillance by Israel to halt for four days in the south of Gaza;
- Aerial surveillance by Israel to halt for six hours a day from 10am to 4pm for four days in the north of Gaza;
- During the truce period, Israel is committed not to attack or arrest anyone in all areas of Gaza.
@Sky News