On the eve of the first humanitarian truce in Gaza, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced that movement from the southern part of the Gaza Strip to the north would not be allowed during the truce.
He specified that this restriction also applies to “uncoordinated” truck movements within the region. Israeli forces will be positioned along the ceasefire lines within the Gaza Strip as the truce takes effect.
Adraee added that Israeli forces will be stationed in less populated areas and continue administrative and logistical movements along the Netzarim axis and the coastal road.
This announcement comes as the truce between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, is set to commence on a Friday morning.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari stated that the humanitarian truce would begin at 7:00 AM on Friday (05:00 GMT) with the first batch of civilian hostages from Gaza being released at 4:00 PM the same day (14:00 GMT).
Al-Ansari noted that the number of people to be released includes 13 women and children.
Over four days, a total of 50 civilians will be released as agreed upon. During this period, additional information about other hostages will be gathered to consider the release of more individuals, potentially extending the truce.
The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced that the truce would take effect at 7:00 AM on Friday, lasting four days, and would include a cessation of all military activities by both sides.
During this period, 50 Israeli prisoners, including women and children under the age of 19, will be released.
In exchange, Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners, also comprising women and children.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has received a preliminary list of the hostages, with relevant authorities examining the details and maintaining ongoing communication with the families of the hostages.
This truce follows a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, where its members infiltrated Israeli military bases and border settlements in the Gaza envelope, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths according to Israel.
Hamas also took 240 hostages, including foreigners, into Gaza during the attack.
Israel has since responded with intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip and a ground operation launched on October 27, resulting in 14,854 deaths, predominantly civilians, as per the Gaza Health Ministry.