At about 2:00 AM eastern US time Friday, hostilities between Israel and Hamas officially "Paused." In short order, thousands of Palestinians who previously evacuated to the south, began heading north toward their home.
With the first minutes of the ceasefire, #Palestinian families began returning to their homes that they evacuated, #Gaza. Photo by: Mustafa Hassouna. pic.twitter.com/v2FhWzivFb
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) November 24, 2023
Young men of fighting age making use of the temporary ceasefire, that commenced this morning, to return to north Gaza. pic.twitter.com/0NAC5b9B8b
— Imshin (@imshin) November 24, 2023
Jubilation in the streets as the residents have their first break from fighting since the start of Al Aqsa floods campaign pic.twitter.com/MQYbswD5Vs
— Gaza Report - اخبار غزة (@gaza_report) November 24, 2023
The Israeli Defense Force quickly issued leaflets telling those people "the war is not over" and they must not return to the north because it is a "war zone" but many continued northward nonetheless.
The Israelis scatter new pamphlets warning Gazans that the war had not ended despite the ceasefire and that residents are urged to utilize the humanitarian corridors pic.twitter.com/8SUiPCewYr
— Gaza Report - اخبار غزة (@gaza_report) November 24, 2023
As part of the temporary cessation of hostilities, AID TRUCKS began streaming into the Gaza Strip with food, medicine and fuel:
🚨 BREAKING: CEASEFIRE STARTED - HUMANITARIAN AID STARTS TO ENTER GAZA via RAFAH CROSSING https://t.co/U7JehZitJI pic.twitter.com/nVo3N7JxQq
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 24, 2023
There are scattered situations of gunfire, but they are quickly quieted.
Reports that the Israelis fire smoke bombs and shoot in the air to stop residents from returning to battle areas north of the Wadi.
13 Israeli hostages have been handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and are currently heading to Egypt's Rafah crossing. From there they will be transferred to Israel via the Nitzana crossing. Separately 12 Thai nationals are currently being released by Hamas.
Live update: Qatar confirms 24 hostages — 13 Israeli, 10 Thai and 1 Filipino — received by Red Cross https://t.co/jdoSJ5WqE2 . Click to read ⬇️
— TOI ALERTS (@TOIAlerts) November 24, 2023
