Israel-Hamas 4-day humanitarian truce begins today, 13 hostages to be released

Nearly seven weeks into the war initiated by Hamas on October 7, the first pause began early morning on Friday. Nine hours later, the first group of 13 hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in Gaza will be freed, according to the agreement which officials have touted but with caveats about possible hurdles or curveballs.

According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu's country has the list of the first 13 hostages of 50 set to be released over the course of the four-day pause in fighting in Gaza, after which Israel has vowed to resume military operations in full force. Israel will also release 150 Palestinian prisoners, females and minors.

Hamas has said that in addition to the Qatar-mediated hostage deal with Israel, it will also release 23 Thai hostages it is holding in Gaza, without any conditions, following Iranian mediation between the Palestinian terror group and the Thai government.