Israel, Hamas to start first truce in Gaza escalation

Israel and Hamas will start a four-day truce this morning with the latter to release a first group of 13 Israeli women and child hostages later in the day — the first break in a conflict that has devastated the besieged Gaza enclave, Reuters reports.

The truce is due to begin at 7am (10am PKT) and involve a comprehensive ceasefire in north and south Gaza, followed by the release of some of the more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct 7 attack inside Israel, mediators in Qatar said.

But fighting raged on in the hours leading up to the truce, with officials inside the enclave saying a hospital in Gaza City was among the targets bombed. Both sides also signalled the pause would be temporary before fighting resumes.

Hamas confirmed on its Telegram channel that all hostilities from its forces would cease.