Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Begins, First Hostages Released

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on Friday morning ahead of an expected hostage deal between both sides.

The ceasefire, which came weeks after Israel declared war in the aftermath of Hamas launching a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, was set to begin around 7:00 a.m. local time, a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson revealed on Thursday, Axios reported.

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A group of 13 Israeli citizens and 12 Thai citizens who had been taken as hostages by Hamas terrorists were released on Friday morning, according to Egyptian officials, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported .

The group of prisoners released is reportedly in the custody of the International Red Cross and Egyptian officials. Additionally, Israel is set to release 39 Palestinian prisoners , including 24 women and 15 teenage boys.

"The war is not over yet," Avichay Adraee, an Israeli military spokesman told the WSJ. "The humanitarian pause is temporary."

More hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released over the course of the four-day ceasefire in exchange for 150 Palestinians held as prisoners by Israel.

Ahead of the ceasefire, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) placed troops at ceasefire points.

"Anyone who poses a threat to our forces will be hit," a senior officer in the IDF's Southern Command said, The Times of Israel reported .

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Qatar had previously announced that a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would start on Thursday.

Two elderly Israeli women , Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and her neighbor, Nurit Cooper, 79, along with two Americans, Judith Ranaan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were previously released by Hamas.