Gazans have been on Saturday experiencing a second day of relative calm absent of Israeli attacks as a temporary pause in fighting holds.
After almost 50 days of constant Israeli bombardment that has killed nearly 15,000 Palestinians in the besieged enclave, a four-day truce came into effect from early Friday and appeared to be proceeding on Saturday.
But the United Nations said on Friday that “the 24 hours prior to the pause witnessed an intensification of Israeli strikes from air, land and sea” throughout Gaza.
The temporary truce has allowed the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza – where no place has proven safe in the past seven weeks – to experience their first night of sleep without the fear of being killed in an Israeli air raid.
Many displaced Palestinians, like this woman, went to inspect their houses during the pause, but they found total destruction, as the IOF was carpet bombing entire neighborhoods.
The Gov’t Media Office said that the Israelis destroyed 60% of the buildings in the #Gaza strip. pic.twitter.com/4AMEZsTbL4
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) November 25, 2023
It also provided some time for families to try to secure supplies of food and water, which have become scarce amid the unrelenting assault on the besieged enclave.
Some chose to go back to the northern parts of Gaza – which have seen the worst of the fighting between the Israeli occupation army and resistance fighters – amid a ground invasion of the area by Israeli troops supported by heavy machinery and air strikes. Two Palestinians were martyred on their way north by Israeli occupation’s fire.
More Captives to Be Released
It was expected that 13 Israelis will be released later today, an Israeli official source told the BBC and the AFP news agency.
Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli Prison Service said that 42 Palestinian prisoners are to be released — as part of the Qtar-brokered agreement between Hamas and the Israeli occupation, three prisoners are to be freed for each Israeli let go.
On Friday, 13 Israelis held by Hamas were released for 39 Palestinian prisoners, including 24 women and 15 children. In a separate agreement, 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino who were set free.
Meanwhile, nearly 200 aid trucks entered the besieged Gaza Strip, including four trucks loaded with fuel through the Rafah crossing.
Some 50 Israeli prisoners are set to be freed over the four-day truce, Israeli media reported.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
