After almost seven weeks of incessant airstrikes, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been largely respected today. This means that 13 of the more than 200 hostages Hamas captured on 7 October will be released this afternoon. At the same time, 39 Palestinians held without trial in Israeli prisons are to be released. It is mainly women, children and teenagers on both sides who are now being released. Most of the released hostages are said to be children. The image has been provided to Reuters by the Israeli Defense Forces, the IDF. The plane that will transport the hostages to Egypt, with earmuffs for children. Photo: ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES / Reuters Preparations under way According to Israeli media, the hostages from Gaza will arrive in Israel around 5 pm Norwegian time. Israeli Channel 13 reports that the Israeli prison service began preparations to release 39 Palestinian women and children already this morning. They must have been transported to Ofer prison in the West Bank and will either be released there or in East Jerusalem. Cars with Palestinian women and children to be released arrived at Ofer military prison from another prison today. They are scheduled to be released this afternoon. Photo: AMMAR AWAD / Reuters Respecting the ceasefire A spokesperson for Hamas says this afternoon that they will respect the four-day ceasefire – as long as Israel does the same. During these days, 50 hostages will be released from Gaza, and 150 imprisoned Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons. In addition, hundreds of trucks with emergency aid will be allowed into Gaza. Around 1,200 people were killed when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, according to Israeli authorities. In Gaza, around 15,000 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to the health authorities run by Hamas. Over 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced. Also listen to the Urix podcast:
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