Palestinians who had taken refuge in temporary shelters return to their homes in eastern Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during the first hours of the four-day truce on November 24, 2023. Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP
Doha, Qatar: The four-day humanitarian pause in Gaza formally began. To read about the day two of truce, Click here.
[11:09pm Doha Time] Qatar focused on mediation role
Al Jazeera: Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari told the country’s news agency that Doha had “maintained direct lines of communication with both sides and the International Red Cross”.
With the truce liable to fall through at any moment should there be delays in releasing captives or outbreaks of fighting, Al Ansari said Qatar was continuing “to monitor the situation” and “relaying information” between Israel, Hamas and the Red Cross “to ensure that any issues that occur are immediately addressed”.
The spokesperson thanked all the parties involved, and said that Qatar hoped that there will be a build up of momentum “towards extending this pause beyond the initial four-day period”.
[10:26pm Doha Time] Today’s captive release ‘only a start’, says Biden
“This deal is structured to allow a pause to continue” to allow more captives to be released. “That’s our goal,” said US President Joe Biden. “It’s only a start, but so far it’s gone well.”
Tears of joy as Palestinian female prisoner is reunited with mother, family.
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) November 24, 2023
Follow our coverage of the captives release here: https://t.co/UFo9zgEhOO#Palestine pic.twitter.com/ZSY2mjhEHj
[9:07pm Doha Time] UN OCHA gives updates on aid delivery to Gaza
Al Jazeera reported that the UN’s humanitarian office says it was able to ramp up its aid delivery efforts to Gaza today during the first day of the pause in fighting.
In a statement, it said:
• 200 trucks were dispatched from Nitsana to the Rafah crossing.
• 137 trucks of goods were offloaded by the UNRWA reception point in Gaza making it the • biggest humanitarian convoy received since October 7.
• 129,000 litres of fuel and four trucks of gas also crossed into Gaza.
• 21 critical patients were evacuated in a large-scale medical operation from the north of Gaza.
• Hundreds of thousands of people were assisted with food, water, medical supplies and other essential humanitarian items.
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[9:29pm Doha Time] Pause in fighting must be permanent, urged the French Foreign Ministry
“As the Minister has recalled on numerous occasions, the truce obtained today must be lasting, sustained, and must be able to lead to a ceasefire,” the ministry says in a statement. It also said that France “welcomes the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, as well as the ICRC.”
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[9:07pm Doha Time] Buses of Palestinian women and children arrive in Beitunia from Ofer Prison
The first group of the released Palestinian women and children detained by Israel has arrived to Beitunia from the Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank. At least 39 prisoners are expected to be released as part of the truce agreement.
A bus belonging to the International Red Cross is parked outside of the Ofer military camp near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, after transporting Palestinian prisoners from three Israeli jails, on November 24, 2023. (Photo by Ahmad Gharabli / AFP)
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[8:16pm Doha Time] Crowd awaiting released Palestinians suppressed by Israeli forces
From Ofer prison, Al Jazeera reports Israeli forces volleyed tear gas at the “hundreds if not thousands of people gathered in expectation” awaiting the release of the 39 Palestinian women and teenage boys outside the incarceration facility in the occupied West Bank.
People gather on a hill overlooking the Israeli Ofer military facility in Baytunia in the occupied West Bank as they wait for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages freed by Hamas in Gaza on November 24, 2023. (Photo by Jaafar Aahtiyeh / AFP)
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[8:00pm Doha Time] Israeli military says released captives ‘on Israeli territory’
In a post on X, the military said the captives were being escorted by Israeli forces and Shin Bet agents. It said the captives would be accompanied until they are reunited with their families at Israeli hospitals.
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[7:40pm Doha Time] '39 women and children’ released from Israeli jails
Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari has confirmed the release of “39 women and children” from Israeli prisons.
In a post on X, Dr. Al Ansari said this is in accordance with commitments agreed upon for the first day of the truce.
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[7:30pm Doha Time] Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari said Red Cross received '24 civilian captives’ in Gaza.
Dr. Al Ansari said in a post on X that among those released were:
13 Israelis, some with dual citizenship
10 Thai nationals
1 Filipino
Dr. Al Ansari added that a number of women and children were among the 24 civilian captives received by the Red Cross “in the framework of the truce agreement”.
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[7:22pm Doha Time] Int’l Red Cross confirms ‘multi-day operation’ for captive, detainee release has begun.
In a statement, the organisation announced that it will be working over the coming days to transfer hostages held in Gaza to Israeli authorities and transfer Palestinian detainees to authorities in the West Bank, both to be reunited with their families.
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[6:36pm Doha Time] Al Jazeera reported that according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the released Israeli captives are currently meeting representatives of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.
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[6:10pm Doha Time] Two Hamas sources have confirmed a handover of captives to the Red Cross for return to Israel via Egypt, according to AFP. A source in the military wing of Hamas confirmed the handover, adding: “This is the first group under the agreement.”
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[5:55pm Doha Time] Families of Palestinian prisoners are gathered outside Israel’s Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank waiting for the release of their loved ones.
Israeli border guards take position outside the Ofer military camp between Ramallah and Baytunia in the occupied West Bank city amid preparations for the release of Palestinian hostages in exchange for Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, on November 24, 2023. (Photo by Jaafar Ashtiyeh / AFP)
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[5:50pm Doha Time] What other countries have citizens held captive in Gaza?
In addition to Israeli civilians and soldiers taken on October 7, more than half the roughly 240 captives are foreign and dual nationals from about 40 countries, according to the Israeli government.
These include:
• Argentina
• Britain
• Chile
• France
• Germany
• Portugal
• Spain
• Thailand
• United States
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[5:45pm Doha Time] Thai PM's statement on X:
“It has been confirmed by the security side and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that 12 Thai hostages are already released,” posted PM Srettha Thavisin.
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[5:38pm Doha Time] Who are the 12 Thai workers that will be released?
During the October 7 attack, 23 Thai workers were among the more than 240 people Hamas kidnapped. According to the Thai foreign ministry, about 30,000 Thais were employed in mainly Israel’s agricultural sector.
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[5:31pm Doha Time] Israeli TV stations are saying that the Israeli captives have been transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza and are on their way to the crossing with Egypt. No information yet about the release of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
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[5:17pm Doha Time] PM says 12 Thai workers freed
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said in a social media post that the government has received confirmation that 12 Thai workers held in Gaza have been released from captivity.
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[5:06pm Doha Time] The head of Egypt’s state information service says a number of Thai nationals to be freed from Gaza, alongside the 13 Israeli captives.
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[4:16pm Doha Time] WHO chief says ‘much more’ Gaza aid needed
In a post on X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomes the start of the humanitarian pause and the entry of aid into Gaza, calling it a “step in the right direction”.
“But much more is needed,” he warned “We continue to call for a sustainable ceasefire to end further civilian suffering.”
A truck carrying humanitarian aid enters the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing with Egypt, hours after the start of a four-day truce. (Photo by Said Khatib / AFP)
[4:00pm Doha Time] In a new recording, Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, says the group is committed to the truce and swap deal as long as Israel is committed as well.
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[2:03pm Doha Time] Palestine Red Crescent gets 2 ambulances, 85 aid aid trucks
The Palestine Red Crescent teams received today, November 24, two ambulances and 85 trucks loaded with aid from the Egyptian Red Crescent through the Rafah crossing.
On social media, the aid group stated that the trucks are carrying essential supplies such as food, water, relief items, medical equipment, and medications.
Today, the Palestine Red Crescent teams received two ambulances and 85 trucks loaded with aid from the Egyptian Red Crescent through the Rafah crossing.
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) November 24, 2023
These trucks are carrying essential supplies such as food, water, relief items, medical equipment, and medications.#Gaza… pic.twitter.com/r1QRrGkU4X
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[1:05pm Doha Time] ‘We need years to rebuild Gaza again’
Hamza Ibrahim, a resident of Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, says Palestinians are both joyful and sad following the start of the truce.
“The truce is a great source of relief from the pain and stress that people feel when they live in an ongoing state of bombardment in Gaza,” Ibrahim told Al Jazeera, saying the pause allows them to “restore daily activity and reconnect with family”.
He noted, however, that Palestinians are frightened that the “nightmare” will return soon.
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[12pm Doha Time]
Fuel trucks and humanitarian aid began to flow into the Gaza Strip at a greater pace through the Rafah land crossing.
According to Egyptian media, seven fuel trucks entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing immediately after the pause went into force today at 7 am Palestine local time, noting that 60 humanitarian aid trucks are also being brought in as a first batch today.
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing with Egypt, hours after the start of a four-day truce, on November 24, 2023. Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP
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[10:26am Doha Time] IN PHOTOS: Palestinians return to their Khan Younis homes
Palestinians who had taken refuge in temporary shelters return to their homes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip during the first hours of a four-day humanitarian pause on November 24, 2023. Photos by AFP
Photo by Mahmud HAMS / AFP
Photo by Mahmud HAMS / AFP
Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP
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[10am Doha Time] Officials at Rafah crossing confirm entry of aid into Gaza
Al Jazeera reported that the spokesperson of the Rafah crossing administration has confirmed the entry of aid and fuel trucks into the Gaza Strip
This is following its earlier report about the first aid trucks crossing into Gaza from Egypt.
“We expect 230 trucks to enter today,” the spokesperson said.
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[9:55am Doha Time] Palestinian Authority receives list of hostages slated for release
A list with the names of 39 Palestinians who are expected to be released today has been received by the Palestinian Authority.
“We are also hearing that that list may not be the final,” said a Jazeera reporter from Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.
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[9am Doha Time] Al Jazeera reported that aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing.
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[8am Doha Time] The Humanitarian Pause Agreement in the Gaza Strip, which was reached through Qatar's mediation, in partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, went into force at 7am Palestine local time for four days, subject to extension.
This is the first pause of its kind since the start of the violent Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip on October 7th, which has so far resulted in the killing of more than 15,000 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women, in addition to more than 36,000 wounded.
