A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has taken effect, although neither side has yet said that the fighting has stopped.
However, rocket sirens sounded in southern Israel just moments after 7am local time – when the pause in the fighting was set to begin. It’s unclear if there was an actual attack.
The period is supposed to last for four days and will see 50 Israeli hostages exchanged for 150 Israel-held Palestinian prisoners.
To start, it’s thought 13 Israeli captives will be handed over to the Red Cross at 4pm local time (2pm UK time) before being taken to the IDF.
A group of hostages is supposed to be released each day following the initial exchange. There may be an extension of the pause but Israel has warned that its campaign in Gaza is not yet finished.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee has warned in an Arabic message to Palestinian civilians in Gaza telling residents not to head north.
He said: “The war is not over yet.”
IDF aerial surveillance will be paused daily over southern Gaza between 10am and 4pm each day, presumably to allow Hamas to retrieve hostages without giving away its positions.
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