Sirens heard in Gaza border area after ceasefire comes into effect; hostages to be released in afternoon

The negotiated 4-day pause in fighting came into effect at 7 a.m. on Friday after rockets targeted Gaza border communities from the early morning hours.

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The families of hostages await their return anxiously amid distrust of Hamas. "We are trying to stay strong and hope for the best," Yossi Engel, whose grandson Ofir is not expected to be released, said.

9 View gallery Family of hostages held in Gaza await first phase of release ( Photo: Tal Shahar )

According to the deal, 50 hostages, mostly women and children are to be freed during the ceasefire and 150 Palestinians convicted of terrorism, would be released from prison and allowed to return home.

The IDF said that any violation of the truce would result in a strong response from forces. The ceasfire is also expected to be observed by the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.

On Friday, Israeli officials said that the U.S., Egypt and Qatar, who were guarantors of the hostage deal with Hamas must ensure that the Red Cross be given access to the hostages who would remain imprisoned by Hamas. On Thursday, Egyptian official said that the terrorists refused to allow Red Cross representatives to visit the hostages held in Gaza and was only willing to provide information on their condition, the Qatari owned, UK based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper reported.

According to the report, Hamas considers information about captives a currency that Israel must pay for. Israel said on Wednesday that the Red Cross would be allowed to visit the captives according to the agreement negotiated with the help of Qatar but did not deny that Hamas was now refusing to allow such visits.

9 View gallery 37 children held hostage by Hamas

In the report, the Egyptian official said that Israeli security officials will await the hostages on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing along with Egyptian officials and representatives of the Red Crescent and the Red Cross. After the Israelis receive the hostages, they would be flown to Israel from the airport at el-Arish.

9 View gallery An Egyptian ambulance at the Rafah border crossing ( Photo: Mohammed Abed / AFP )

The families of hostages said they were awaiting the release of the first group of captives on Friday but said they did not trust Hamas to see the deal through.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed also reported that the 23 Thai nationals who were abducted by the Hamas terrorists on October 7, would be released at the request of Iran that had been in contact with the government in Bangkok. Hamas reportedly provided the Thai government with information about their citizens held in Gaza. The report did not say when they would be freed but Thai media said it may come as early as Friday.

9 View gallery The parents of a Thai national held hostage in Gaza ( Photo: Thomas Suen / Reuters )

The list of hostages to be released on Friday was delivered to the Prime Minister's Office and his appointed liaison to the families of the captives Gal Hirsch, said the all families were informed whether their loved ones would be included among the first group expected to be freed from Hamas captivity on Friday at 4 p.m.

The survivors of the Hamas massacre from Kfar Aza, who are residing in central Israel, heard with great sadness than none of the seven children taken from their community would be among the first to be freed. Among them is Abigail Edan, whose father Roy – a Ynet photographer, was murdered with his wife Smadar, when terrorists infiltrated their home.

Abigail who will be four on Friday, survived and fled to a neighbors' house but was taken by the terrorists from there along with the neighbor and her children. Abigail's siblings who hid during the atrocities, were in the care of their grandparents.

9 View gallery Slain Ynet photographer Roy Edan with kidnapped Abigail

After informing the families who's loved ones were to be included in Friday's release, Hirsch said additional verified information would be published to avoid rumors. He asked that Israeli media outlets not to reveal the names of those who were expected to arrive, until they were physically in the hands of Israel.

The Red Cross said the hostages would be transferred to Egypt through the Rafah crossing and from there to Israel. "We hope the pause in the fighting would contribute to the provision of aid to the entire Gaza Strip," the Red Cross said. Earlier Hamas demanded that the hostages be transported out of Gaza in Egyptian ambulances.

The IDF prepared an area in its Hatzerim airbase in the south, to receive the hostages and carry out initial medical assessments and facilitate calls to their families. If needed, families would be brought to the vicinity of the airbase and be reunited with their loved ones.

9 View gallery Personal kits prepared for released hostages

The police would be set up to block roads to allow for a swift transport to hospital.

From Hatzerim the hostages would be transported either by air or by road, depending on their condition, to one of the five hospitals already prepared to receive them. In the Soroka Medical Center, which is closest to the Egyptian border in Rafah, a dedicated and secluded area was prepared where arrangements were made for family members to stay close to their released relatives. According to specific medical needs, hostages would be moved to other medical centers. According to the decision of health officials, women would be treated by female doctors and nurses only.

The security services decided that children released would not be interviewed in the initial stage of their return, although Shin Bet operatives were specifically trained in handling such situations. Only adults would be questioned by the Shin Bet to obtain vital intelligence.

9 View gallery Sign welcoming hostages at the Shamir Medical center

Qatar Foreign Ministry said on Thursday afternoon that 13 Israeli hostages would be released by Hamas on Friday at 4 p.m. The ministry spokesperson said the ceasefire will come into effect at 7 a.m. on Friday.

"The first group of 13 civilians will be released from captivity in the Gaza Strip tomorrow at 4 p.m. Other captives will be freed in the course of the days of the ceasefire," the spokesperson said. "Humanitarian aid will begin entering the Strip as soon as the ceasefire is in effect. The aid that will arrive is a fraction of what Gaza needs."

9 View gallery Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson ( Photo: Reuters )