Israel says truce, captives release will not start before Friday – SUCH TV

Israeli and US officials have said a four-day Gaza truce and hostage release will not start until at least Friday.

As the wait continued, Khan Younis in southern Gaza was hit by Israeli airstrikes and artillery in at least two waves early on Thursday, Palestinian media reported.

According to international media reports, tensions also rose on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon early Thursday, after Hezbollah said five fighters, including the son of the head of the group’s parliamentary bloc, had been martyred.

Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi indicated the release of at least 50 Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas was on track, but would not happen until Friday at the earliest.

The death toll of Palestinians since Oct 7 has climbed to 14,758 which includes 6,000 children and 4,000 women, According to the government media office in Gaza.

At least 35,000 are injured with over 75 per cent of them children and women.

Meanwhile, the latest death toll from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the West Bank is at least 226 including 51 children. More than 2,750 are injured.