• It is the 49th day of the war: According to Hamas, over 14,800 Palestinians have been killed, including 5,600 children. In Israel, 1,200 people died in the attack on October 7th.
• Ceasefire today at 7 p.m.: The first 13 hostages will be released in the afternoon.
• The Mossad has ordered Hamas to be eliminated abroad as well.
• The words and acronyms to understand the conflict: Here is the glossary.
• The history of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, explained here.
12:16 p.m. – The Israeli hostages are taken to the Hatzerim base in the south
Once the hostages leave the Rafah border crossing, they will be handed over to Israel “near the border” and then transferred to Israel to the Hatzerim military base in the south of the country. According to official information and media reports, the transshipment will probably be carried out using military helicopters. There will be a medical team on board each plane to assist the hostages. Special headphones that are given to little ones to muffle the noise could be seen on the televisions.
12:14 p.m. – Crosetto in sight in Israel
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto is in Israel for a series of institutional meetings dedicated to the path of dialogue. The Ministry of Defense announced this on
11:59 a.m. – Egypt will facilitate the return of foreign citizens from Gaza
Egypt will continue to receive groups of injured people, including children, from the Gaza Strip for treatment in the country, as well as foreigners and dual citizens stranded in the Gaza Strip, and facilitate their return to their respective countries. This was stated by the head of the State Information Office, Diaa Rashwan. He then recalled that the agreement stipulates that 130,000 liters of diesel and four tankers of gas will enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt every day for the first time, and that humanitarian aid will flow regularly from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, including 200 daily aid trucks. Finally, for the first time since the start of the war, the Egyptian side will allow Palestinians stranded in the country to enter the Gaza Strip “at will.”
11:56 a.m. – “Ten ambulances went to Gaza City to evacuate patients”
The Red Crescent reported that due to the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, 10 ambulances were en route to evacuate patients from Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip. The operation was “coordinated and accompanied” by the United Nations, the Red Crescent continued. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently stated that the activities of Al-Ahli Hospital were reduced to a minimum. According to the WHO, 22 of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are closed due to the war between Israel and Hamas.
11.44 a.m. – “Two dead during attempted passage from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip”
Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli military fire today as they tried to cross from the southern to the northern part of the Gaza Strip in the first hours of the ceasefire, despite warnings from the Israeli army. This was reported from Shuhada Hospital in Deir el-Ballah, southern Gaza, where several Palestinians injured in this accident in the Sallah-a-din artery were transported. Two of the injured later died.
11:27 a.m. – Hezbollah: “We respect the ceasefire as long as Israel does not attack”
The Lebanese Hezbollah assures that it wants to respect the four-day ceasefire that came into force this morning without firing on Israeli military positions from the south of Lebanon. Speaking to the Lebanese newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour, a Hezbollah source said: “We are abiding by the ceasefire agreed in Gaza on the condition that Israel does not attack southern Lebanon.” If he did that, we certainly wouldn’t remain idle.”
11:02 a.m. – Alarm sirens in Eilat, southern Israel: But it was a false alarm
In Eilat, in the very south of Israel on the Red Sea, warning sirens are wailing. The media reported the flight of an enemy drone as the cause of the infiltration. The Yemeni Houthis, allies of Iran, have been sending missiles or drones against Eilat for some time.
However, the incident in Eilat was “a false alarm,” the Israeli military spokesman later said, adding that there was no “risk of an accident.”
10:58 a.m. – Sanchez: “Help for Gaza evacuees arriving in Egypt”
“Almost four tons of medical and humanitarian aid” will soon arrive in Egypt to be made available to “people evacuated from Gaza” who mainly need hospital assistance: this is what Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a speech from Cairo Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo. Sanchez added that the ceasefire that began today in Gaza “must be maintained” and that he and his interlocutors therefore called today on the two parties “to negotiate a permanent ceasefire.”
10:52 a.m. – Tense calm in southern Lebanon after the ceasefire begins
After nearly 50 days of war between Hezbollah and Israel, a tense calm reigns in southern Lebanon near the demarcation line between the two countries. Eyewitnesses reported this to ANSA, confirming the reports from local Lebanese media. The last 24 hours have seen an unprecedented escalation along the war front between Hezbollah and Israel, with dozens of rockets fired by the Party of God at Israeli military positions in the Upper Galilee and intense retaliation by the Israeli air force and artillery in southern Lebanon.
10:33 a.m. – “15 Palestinians were injured while trying to cross from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip.”
According to information from Gaza, 15 Palestinians were injured by the Israeli army while trying to cross from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip. Haaretz reports, adding that they were taken to a hospital in Deir al-Ballah, southern Gaza. Since the ceasefire agreement, the army has reiterated that it will not allow the return of displaced Palestinians from the south to the north of the Strip, and dropped leaflets in Arabic on the Palestinian enclave this morning to reinforce this point.
10:25 a.m. – London releases new aid to Gaza and urges compliance with ceasefire
The UK is doubling its humanitarian aid to Gaza, today announcing an additional £30 million (€34.5 million) and demanding that the agreement between Israel and Hamas be “fully respected”. “Today I can announce £30 million in new funding which will be used for vital assistance such as shelter and medical equipment,” Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who is currently traveling in the region, said in a statement. “It is critical to protect civilians and we are exploring all options to provide aid to Gaza, including land, sea and air assistance,” he added. London had already provided two tranches of aid, 10 million pounds (11.5 million euros), then 20 million (23 million euros) at the end of October.
10:17 a.m. – West Bank: Palestinian killed in clashes in Jericho
A 22-year-old Palestinian, Muhammad Hannawi, was shot dead today during clashes with the Israeli army in the Aqbat Jaber refugee camp near Jericho (West Bank). This was reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, citing the Wafa news agency. The incidents occurred during an arrest at the camp by an Israeli unit. So far, the army has not commented on this episode.
10:05 a.m. – Israel’s prison service has a list of 39 Palestinians to be released
The Israel Penitentiary Service has received the list of 39 Palestinian prisoners who will be released today as part of the exchange for 13 Israeli hostages brought to Gaza by Hamas. The media reported about it. The service began processing shortly before noon the 39 minor and female detainees who will be transferred to Ofer prison in the West Bank before being released to the West Bank or East Jerusalem.
9:48 a.m. – Israel confirms fuel and gas entered from Rafah
Four trucks carrying fuel and four carrying gas for domestic use arrived this morning from the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza for the people of the Gaza Strip. This was confirmed by Cogat, the Israeli government authority for the territories, which said “the handover was approved by the political class” and was part of the ceasefire agreement and the release of the hostages. “The domestic fuel and gas are intended for the basic needs of the humanitarian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip,” Cogat explained.
9:02 a.m. – Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh: “The ceasefire in Gaza is a political victory for Hamas.”
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called the Gaza ceasefire a political victory. At a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Doha, he stated: “The ceasefire is a political victory achieved as a result of the success of the resistance forces on the ground.” Our enemy has killed women, children and other civilians and their homes destroyed, but he never managed to achieve his goals,” writes the ISNA news agency.
8:37 a.m. – In Rafah, hundreds of people crowd to pass the gate
Sources at the Rafah crossing and the Red Crescent reported that for the first time since the start of the war, hundreds of people from both Egyptian and Palestinian sides poured through the Rafah crossing without prior lists.
They include foreigners and Egyptians stuck in Gaza who want to cross into Egypt, and Palestinians stuck in Sinai and other Egyptian cities who are leaving Egypt to return to Gaza.
Meanwhile, trucks carrying relief supplies continue to cross the border crossing in coordination with UNRWA and the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescents.
08:24 – The armed forces warn Gaza citizens: “Do not return to the north, the war is not over yet.”
“The war is not over yet.” The humanitarian pause is temporary. The northern Gaza Strip is a dangerous war zone and travel north is prohibited. For your safety, you must remain in the southern humanitarian zone”: Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said this in a message in Arabic on X.
In fact, several videos posted on social media show Palestinians on the way trying to return from the south to the north, Haaretz reports. Local sources spoke of barriers set up by the army to deter any attempt.
The Israeli military also dropped leaflets over Gaza with the same warning.
Some Arab media such as Al Jazeera show images showing that some Palestinian families have started moving north after the ceasefire began, presumably to return to their homes.
8:09 a.m. – Shortly before the ceasefire, Israeli forces destroyed a tunnel in Gaza City
Shortly before the ceasefire began in Gaza, the Israeli army (IDF) destroyed a tunnel discovered under the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Israel believes it is a facility used by Hamas.
7:58 a.m. – Egypt, trucks carrying aid begin entering the Gaza Strip
Two hundred trucks carrying food, medicine and water for the Gaza Strip, as well as fuel tankers, are expected to reach the Rafah crossing today, the Egyptian government press office said. However, according to Egyptian Red sources, only twelve trucks have so far crossed the Crescent in North Sinai.
Three tankers with around 90,000 liters of fuel on board also crossed the border. Between 120,000 and 150,000 liters are expected to flow in today. Meanwhile, twelve wounded men and their companions were brought through the gap into Egypt.
Rafah – which lies on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt – represents the only route through which both humanitarian supplies and the wounded and citizens with dual passports who were allowed to enter Gaza during these weeks of war could pass through.
06:42 – Israeli army: intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza after the ceasefire began
A rocket fired from Gaza after the ceasefire began was intercepted by an Iron Dome air defense battery near the Israeli border kibbutzim Kissufim and Ein Ha-Shlosha. Alarm sirens had previously sounded in this area. No damage or loss was reported.
6:24 a.m. – The ceasefire began at 7 a.m. local time (6 a.m. in Italy)
In the hours before the temporary ceasefire, rocket sirens were activated in Israeli towns bordering Gaza and there were reports of heavy shelling by Israeli forces across the Gaza Strip as the army tried to further its mission as far as possible against Hamas in the final hours before the break, according to the Times of Israel.
At 4 p.m., 13 hostages held in Gaza will be released, followed by an unknown number of Palestinian prisoners (supposed to be 39) from Israeli prisons. At least 50 women and children currently held in the Gaza Strip are expected to be released in the next four days. However, around 190 will remain in the hands of Palestinian terrorists. During the same period, 150 Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli prisons are expected to be released: mostly women and minors, some convicted of attempted murder.
6:07 a.m. – Hamas: 14,854 Palestinians have died in the war
The Hamas government press office in Gaza updated the war death toll to 14,854, with an additional 322 people killed in the last day. These figures have not been independently verified and are believed to include Palestinian civilians killed by rockets from terrorist groups as well as Palestinian terrorists killed by Israel, the Times of Israel points out. The terror group’s office said about 36,000 Palestinians had been injured in the 48 days of fighting and 7,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – were missing, possibly under rubble.
5:58 a.m. – Al Jazeera, Woman killed in Israeli raid on Indonesian hospital in Gaza
A woman was killed and three other people injured after Israeli forces raided an Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza this evening, Al Jazeera reports, citing the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry.
3:22 a.m. – Another 103 Russian citizens were evacuated from Gaza to Egypt
A special flight evacuated another 103 Russian citizens from Gaza. The Moscow Emergencies Ministry announced this today in a Telegram message quoted by international media. The ministry adds that 101 Russian citizens were transferred from Gaza to Egypt in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of Russian displaced people to over 750. So far, more than 650 people have been flown to Russia, including more than 300 children.
3:04 a.m. – Gaza, mini ceasefire begins: The first 13 Israeli hostages are released
(by Davide Frattini, our correspondent in Jerusalem) The ringing as the sun sets, the long night, the awakening – will we be able to sleep? – full of fear. The Israeli government received the list of returnees today and contacted the families. After the postponement, Qatar’s negotiators restarted the process that was supposed to bring home the first 13 hostages: many hours, too many for those who have waited for 48 days, between the ceasefire’s entry into force at 7 a.m. (6 in Italy ). ) and the release of prisoners at 4 p.m. (our 3 p.m.). A full day after this call of hope, those who did not receive it know “that they did not win the lottery,” says Guy Metzer, who still expects his mother to be included in the next calls. Mayaan also admits that he won’t see Ella (8) and Dafna (15) again today. It is the torture of drip release prescribed by Hamas to buy time. Those who expose themselves in public are the loved ones who are “lost” for the time being, the lucky ones respect their pain without flaunting their joy, which is always at stake.
2:02 a.m. – Egypt, with the ceasefire, 130,000 liters of diesel will be delivered to Gaza every day
Egypt says 130,000 liters of diesel and four truckloads of gasoline will be delivered to Gaza every day during the ceasefire, which is due to begin this morning. Local and international media report on it.
2:02 a.m. – Pro-Palestine demonstration in Cuba with President Diaz-Canel
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel led a large demonstration in support of Palestinians in Havana on Thursday. During the demonstration, the US was also criticized for its support of Israel. “What young Cubans are demanding with this march is an end to the attacks on Palestine,” Cristina Diaz, a 22-year-old student at the University of Havana, told AFP. Cuban President Manuel Marrero led the demonstration.
00:56 – West Bank, media: “Minister Ben Gvir orders to ignore settler violence”
The head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Central Command, Major General Yehuda Fox, reportedly wrote a secret document to the IDF chief of staff claiming that the police are not fighting Palestinians in the West Bank on the orders of the far-right minister for national affairs Security Itamar Ben Gvir. Channel 12 says this without citing the source. According to the Israeli broadcaster, Fox also warned in the document that the IDF was unable to prevent a possible explosion of the situation in the West Bank due to right-wing extremist violence. Israeli police, for their part, deny such an order, adding that such attacks have decreased by 50% since October 7 compared to the same period last year. Ben Gvir is currently neither confirming nor denying the instruction. At the same time, he accuses the media of carrying out a “false media campaign against settler violence”.
00:48 – Israeli army: Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon attacked
The Israeli army said it had attacked Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon in the last few hours. According to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement cited by local media, the attack specifically targeted a launch site used to fire rockets against the Jewish state yesterday. The Shiite movement claimed responsibility for at least six attacks carried out yesterday along the Lebanon-Israel dividing line and in the territorial depths of the Upper Galilee.