Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war to begin at 0630 GMT

Sharjah24 – AFP: A ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war is to begin on Sunday at 0630 GMT, with three Israeli hostages to be released from captivity in return for a first group of Palestinian prisoners.

If all goes to plan, a total of 33 hostages taken by militants during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel will be returned from Gaza during an initial 42-day truce.

Truce Aims for Peace

Under the deal, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails.

The truce is intended to pave the way to an end to more than 15 months of war sparked by the October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history.

It follows a deal struck by mediators Qatar, the United States and Egypt after months of fruitless negotiations, and takes effect on the eve of Donald Trump's inauguration as US president.

In a televised address to the nation on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had US support to return to war if necessary.

Calling the 42-day first phase a "temporary ceasefire", he said: "If we are forced to resume the war, we will do so with force."