Israel-Hamas truce and hostage deal to start out Friday, says Qatar

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A brief ceasefire and hostage launch deal between Israel and Hamas will take impact on Friday, Qatar’s overseas ministry has mentioned.

The ceasefire, which was purported to take impact on Thursday morning however was delayed by a day, will start at 7am native time on Friday and the primary hostages might be launched at 4pm native time, the overseas ministry in Doha mentioned.

Israeli and Hamas officers mentioned on Wednesday {that a} deal had been struck beneath which Hamas would free 50 hostages held in Gaza, in change for a four-day truce and the discharge of 150 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

The primary tranche of hostages is to be made up of 13 ladies and kids and the Israeli prime minister’s workplace confirmed that it had obtained “an preliminary record of names” of these to be launched.

Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the overseas ministry of Qatar, which has performed a key function in mediating the talks, mentioned the delay had been as a result of “very tough” discussions over “schematics and particulars”. However he additionally mentioned all the things was now in place for the deal to go forward, including that it was in “no one’s curiosity to delay the implementation” of the settlement.

“Till we’re given an order to carry fireplace, our operations are persevering with,” mentioned Richard Hecht, a spokesperson for the Israeli navy. “Operations in opposition to Hamas are persevering with in all arenas.”

Right here is the FT view of the pause, which comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stays a great distance from his struggle goals.

Right here’s what else I’m watching at present:

• Financial information: Japan’s October CPI inflation fee information might be launched together with it’s S&P International November PMI information for manufacturing and companies.

• US: Monetary markets will shut early on the day after Thanksgiving.

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Information in-depth

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Take a break from the information

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Extra contributions from Gary Jones and Gordon Smith