Israel and Hamas begin ceasefire today

SGGPO 11/24/2023 08:39

Reuters news agency quoted a source from the Qatari Foreign Ministry as saying that Israel and Hamas forces began implementing a four-day ceasefire from 7:00 a.m. on November 24 (local time, 12:00 p.m. Vietnam time). This is a comprehensive ceasefire, effective in both the northern and southern Gaza Strip.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKJsGE__HmI[/embed]

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said the first group of 13 Israeli women and children would be released at 4 p.m. the same day (9 p.m. Vietnam time). The number of hostages freed after four days would be 50. In return, Israel would also release many Palestinians being held in prisons. Aid would also begin to flow into the Gaza Strip.

Hamas also confirmed on the social network Telegram that it would temporarily halt fighting with Israel. “We all hope that this agreement will lead to an opportunity to achieve a lasting ceasefire,” Majed Al-Ansari said. A US State Department official called the temporary ceasefire a “hopeful moment,” but said there would be a lot of work to do to free all the hostages.

The scene of destruction after Israeli bombardments on the city of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, November 22, 2023. Photo: THX

According to Reuters, many powers reacted cautiously to the temporary ceasefire because both Israel and Hamas had signaled that this was only a temporary step before the fighting resumed. Before the ceasefire was implemented, fighting continued. Some local officials in the Gaza Strip said a hospital in Gaza City was still among the bombed targets.

On November 23 (local time), Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah welcomed the temporary humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the urgency of a long-term ceasefire agreement as well as the need to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

During their meeting in Cairo, the Egyptian President and the Jordanian King firmly rejected the policies of starvation and collective punishment imposed on the Palestinian people. The two leaders also rejected any attempt to expel Palestinians from Gaza, reaffirming Egypt and Jordan's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.

President El-Sisi and King Abdullah called on the international community to take advantage of the four-day temporary ceasefire, which is expected to take effect from 7:00 a.m. on November 24 (local time), to provide relief to those suffering in Gaza and help ease the humanitarian crisis in this Mediterranean strip of land.

Israeli tanks on the streets of Gaza City on November 22. Photo: REUTERS

The Egyptian leader and the Jordanian king also focused on efforts to advance a political process to ensure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and establish an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. King Abdullah stressed the important role of the temporary humanitarian truce in preventing further escalation in Gaza and supporting efforts to end the war.

King Abdullah praised the role of Egypt and Qatar in bringing about a temporary ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas movement that controls the Gaza Strip. King Abdullah welcomed Egypt's efforts to increase aid to the people of Gaza, provide medical treatment to wounded Palestinians and evacuate foreign nationals.

In another development on the same day, speaking to thousands of Egyptians at a pro-Palestinian event held at Cairo International Stadium, President El-Sisi stated that the expulsion of Palestinians is a red line for Egypt. Mr. El-Sisi emphasized: "We strongly oppose the expulsion of Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan."

According to statistics from the Gaza government's Media Office on November 23, 14,854 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, have been killed since the Gaza conflict began on October 7. In addition, the number of injured has reached more than 36,000, with more than two-thirds of them being women and children. Meanwhile, the number of missing people is estimated at about 7,000, including at least 4,700 children and women.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/israel-va-hamas-bat-dau-tam-ngung-ban-vao-hom-nay-post715499.html