Watch a view of Rafah crossing as women and children released in Hamas ceasefire deal

Watch a view of the Rafah crossing as Israel and Hamas agreed a four-day ceasefire on Friday (24 November).

A four-day ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas began at the scheduled time of 7am, which would be followed by the release of 13 women and children under a Qatar-brokered truce.

Hostages will be released nine hours after the beginning of a humanitarian pause in Gaza, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.

Increased aid for Palestinians will start to enter Gaza “as soon as possible”, Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari added.

It is expected that at least 50 hostages will be freed by Hamas during the four-day ceasefire under a new deal with Israel, brokered by Qatar and the US.

Dozens of children and their mothers held captive in Gaza since Hamas’s brutal incursion into Israel on 7 October will be freed via Egypt, according to the agreement.