2023 Israel–Hamas ceasefire

An ongoing and temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip took effect on 24 November 2023, during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.

The initial agreement, mediated by Qatar, stipulated a four-day break in fighting during which 50 Israeli hostages held in Gaza and 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israel were to be released and more humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter Gaza, with the ceasefire subject to extension providing additional hostages are released. On 27 November, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a two-day extension to the ceasefire was agreed in which 20 Israelis and 60 Palestinians would be released.

The deal was welcomed internationally, including by the United States. Although both sides have blamed each other for violating the ceasefire, it has persisted as of 27 November.

Background

On 7 October 2023, during Hamas-led attack on Israel that commenced the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Palestinian militants abducted around 250 people, including both soldiers and civilians, from Israel and took them back to the Gaza Strip, By 23 November, four have been released by Hamas, two were found dead near the al-Shifa Hospital and one has been rescued.

Hamas have proposed an "everyone for everyone" deal, in which Palestinian militant groups would release all of the Israeli captives in return for the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israel. 5,200 Palestinians were incarcerated by Israel before the war, but according to Palestinian officials, the number rose to over 10,000 amid a wave of mass detentions; following the deportation of several thousand detained Gazan workers, the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs placed the number at approximately 8,300. Families of the hostages have urged the Israeli government to accept the deal, claiming it was supported by "all of Israel," but Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has dismissed the offer and insisted that Israel would free the hostages by force.Several countries and international organisations have called for temporary or permanent ceasefires since the start of the war. Several countries have been involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar taking the lead.

Agreement

On 22 November, an agreement was reached that was brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. after weeks of indirect negotiations. The deal provided for a four-day pause in fighting, the release of 50 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza. All Israelis and Palestinians freed were to be women and children. According to Hamas, the deal also involved Israel halting all air sorties over southern Gaza and maintaining a daily six-hour daytime no-fly window over northern Gaza.

Egyptian state media and a senior Israeli official announced that the ceasefire will enter into effect on the morning of 23 November. However, the ceasefire actually began a day later on 24 November. The Israeli government said that the ceasefire would be extended by one day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas, but insisted that fighting would resume once the truce is over.

During the ceasefire, Hamas declared that the Red Cross is not allowed to visit the remaining hostages in Gaza. This decision continued the prevention of Red Cross visits that started at the beginning of the hostage crisis, on 7 October 2023.

Exchange of captives

The most important part of the ceasefire agreement concerned the exchange of hostages for prisoners: Extensions of the ceasefire are contingent on hostages being released in small batches every 24 hours.

On 24 November 2023, the Israeli government confirmed that 13 Israeli hostages were released. Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, confirmed on social media that 12 Thai hostages were released from Gaza. Later in the day it was reported that of the 24 hostages initially released on 24 November, the number included 13 Israeli citizens (of whom some were dual citizens), 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen by the Qatar foreign ministry. Reportedly a number of Thai citizens were released outside of the truce agreement. The hostages were all reported to be in good health. As of 28 November 50 Israeli hostages have been released, alongside 19 other captives of other nationalities. Few of the released hostages have spoken of their experiences, but those who have recounted being kept in crowded spaces with little electricity and without mattresses, with sparse food available but they were given chicken and rice, bread, canned hummus, cheese and tea.

The hostages were exchanged for the release of 150 women and children from Israeli prisons over the course of days. It was reported on 28 November that about 180 prisoners that were mostly women and teenagers were released, and had been chosen from a list of 300 held Palestinians. Many Palestinian prisoners are held in Israel under administrative detention, arrested for crimes such as speech and nonviolent protest. The released prisoners described mistreatment and a lack of clean water and food in Israeli prisons. One released prisoner stated "We've been tortured." The released Palestinian captives were warned by Israel in a statement from Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, not to celebrate their release or they would be returned to prison. One released teenager was told by Israeli officials that he was "not allowed to leave my house, raise any signs or banners" and that if any of the rules were broken he could be re-arrested and leading up to his release his families home had been searched several times. The Palestinian Prisoners Society stated more Palestinians had been arrested than released since the start of the ceasefire.

Incidents during ceasefire

Due to the continued focus of the Israeli military many Palestinians had fled northern Gaza, with the Israel government issuing warnings against returning as well as dropping leaflets into southern Gaza warning against returning. However, many hundreds of Palestinians began to trek back north after the cease fire was announced on 24 November. In the opening hours of the ceasefire, Al Jazeera English reported that the IDF opened fire on Palestinians returning to Gaza City. Reportedly two were killed.

Both sides have blamed each other for violating the cease fire agreement, shortly after it began. Israel has accused Hamas of launching rockets into Israel about 15 minutes after the start of the pause, and claimed that Israel had not retaliated. The Gaza Health Ministry said that two people were killed and about thirty injured after Israeli soldiers had opened fire on Palestinians in the early morning. Sky News reported on 24 November that Israeli sniper fire injured members of a group of civilians trying to cross from the North to the South of Gaza on the first day of the ceasefire.

On 28 November, allegations of breaking the ceasefire were again raised by both sides. The IDF claimed that Hamas had detonated explosive devices near IDF troops, reportedly injuring several IDF soldiers with shots additionally fired upon them from Hamas militants. Hamas raised claims that the IDF's actions had raised friction in norther Gaza, with Israeli fighter jets flown over the Strip.

Reactions

File:99441 kidnapped teddy bears performance - dizengoff squa PikiWiki Israel.jpg

Teddy bears with pictures of children kidnapped by Hamas.

The Israeli Prime Ministers Office released a statement on the release of the first group of hostages on 24 November, stating that the government "embraces our citizens returning home" and that they were "committed to the return of all hostages and missing persons." Israel President Isaac Herzog, also commented on the release along with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who all welcomed back the hostages and indicated their work would not be complete until every hostage had been released.

A physician who has been working with those released from being hostages remarked on the resilience of many of those released, but cautioned the long process of restoring those released sense of trust and control while living in Israel.

From families of hostages

Gil Dickman, the cousin of a hostage named Carmel, told The Independent that "if this deal opens the door to the next deal," then more hostages will be released, adding "the problem is whether it’s going to fall apart in between the days." Another hostages parent lamented over her jealousy that the families of those released hostages were able to hug and see their released loved ones.

Many family members also referenced those still held captive, with a brother of one of the return children stating while they were happy, there were still other hostages and they needed to keep up the struggle until everyone was returned. Another who had a relative returned but another is still held captive, stated that they were still missing parts of their heart. Relatives of an American-Israeli girl who was orphaned in the 7 October attacks celebrated her release stating, "there are no words to express our relief and gratitude" on her home coming.

Palestinians

Palestinian residents had mixed reactions. Some told The New York Times that it was "a little bit of relief" while many feared it would not end the war. One view was that four days was not enough time to pull bodies from the rubble or search for missing people. In the West Bank, thousands reportedly gathered around the Israeli military's Ofer Prison awaiting the release of the Palestinian prisoners, while waving Palestinian flags. Israeli police reportedly fired tear gas into the crowd in an effort to disperse it. Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Palestinians were banned from celebrating their release, because "Expressions of joy are equivalent to backing terrorism, victory celebrations give backing to those human scum, for those Nazis." In the Qalandiya refugee camp in the West Bank, a Palestinian stated that while the cease fire is a good pause from the bombardment it is not a solution, calling the Israeli military actions a massacre.

Bisan Owda, who had been documenting the conflict on social media, criticized the ceasefire as not guaranteeing the end of Israel's military operations in Gaza, "not enough to pull the dead bodies from under the rubble and bury them," and freelance journalist Hind Khoudary said the ceasefire was "meaningless" without being able to return to Gaza.

International

The deal was welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden and by the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia. The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressed hope that the ceasefire would become permanent and the deal was applauded by Arab foreign ministers, who called for significant increase in aid to Gaza and an extended truce. Politico reported that the Biden administration was concerned that a ceasefire would give journalists greater access to Gaza and allow them to report on destruction there, turning public opinion against Israel.

On 22 November, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the four-day ceasefire and expressed hope that it would bolster efforts to achieve an "outright end to the current conflict."

Joel Weiller, the Director General of Médecins du Monde, stated, "A four-day pause is a band-aid not healthcare. This is not humanitarian access, it's a joke."