The Final Countdown
Final Countdown: Gaza Truce Set for Thursday Noon and Hostage Release in 72 hours
Israel and Hamas agree to pause hostilities starting Thursday, initiating a 72-hour window for hostage releases. Joint task force to coordinate recovery operations.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is slated to commence at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, according to reporting by The Jerusalem Post. This pivotal truce marks the start of a phased process that will see all remaining hostages returned from the Gaza Strip.
The release of the captives, encompassing both those found alive and the bodies of those murdered, is expected to be completed within a 72-hour window following the start of the ceasefire.
In a contradictory report, Osama Hamdan, a senior member of the Hamas Political Bureau, confirmed that the agreement will take effect at 17:00 (5:00 PM), according to Israel's decision.
UPDATE 12:40
According to Israel Prime Minister's Office,
"Contrary to reports in the Arab media, the ceasefire will take effect only after government approval. The 72 hours will be counted after the agreement is approved. Expected in the evening hours."
Informal Agreement and Joint Task Force
The timeline is based on an informal understanding between the warring parties, rather than a formally signed document.
Crucially, the agreement includes a mandate to address the fate of those whose remains are yet to be located. A joint task force, involving Israeli, US, Qatari, and Egyptian personnel, will be established to coordinate the search and recovery of the bodies of hostages whose precise location remains unknown to Israeli authorities.
The immediate implementation of the ceasefire paves the way for the complex and highly sensitive operation to bring the captives home, providing the first major pause in hostilities since the escalation two years ago.