Israel and Hamas have entered a four-day truce with the Palestinian fighters set to release a first group of hostages later in the day and increased aid to flow into the besieged Gaza Strip — the first pause in a nearly seven-week-old escalation.

According to Reuters, the truce’s scheduled start was 7am (10am Pakistan time). A number of Palestinians are expected to be released from Israeli jails later in the day as part of the ceasefire.

 People flee following an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov 23, 2023. — AFP
People flee following an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov 23, 2023. — AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...