After delays, the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has finally come into force in Gaza. It will last at least four days.
This was announced on military radio. The release of 13 Israeli hostages, mostly women and children, is expected in the afternoon. Subsequently , around thirty Palestinian women and minors detained in Israel will also be released.
The temporary suspension of hostilities should also concern Israel's northern border, after repeated firefights between the army and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
Shortly before the start of the truce, the Israeli army blew up a long tunnel dug under the Shifa hospital in Gaza. According to an army spokesperson, Hamas had set up "a nerve center for carrying out terrorist activities." Yesterday the Israeli military arrested the director of Shifa hospital, Mohammad Abu Salmiya.
Meanwhile , two hundred trucks loaded with food, medicine and water for the Gaza Strip are expected to enter the Rafah crossing today. But so far only 12 have crossed the border, Egyptian Red Crescent sources in North Sinai said. Three tankers with around 90 thousand liters of fuel on board also crossed the border.
(Unioneonline/D)