Israeli strikes continued to pummel the Gaza Strip on Thursday in the tense lead-up to a delayed four-day “pause” in fighting, as part of a deal to exchange hostages held in Gaza for prisoners in Israel. The pause and deliveries of aid are set to begin at 7 a.m. local time on Friday, said Majed Al Ansari, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry of Qatar, an intermediary between Hamas and Israel. The first hostages are to be released at 4 p.m. Friday, he said, adding that the pause was delayed by last-minute logistical issues, including the verification of the list of hostages set to be released. Al Ansari said 13 hostages are set to be released in the first phase of the deal. Fifty of the more than 200 people held by Hamas are expected to be released under the agreement. For every 10 hostages released beyond that, the pause will be extended for an additional day, Israel has said.
Susannah George, Bryan Pietsch, Sammy Westfall, Kelly Kasulis Cho, Andrew Jeong, Jennifer Hassan, Adela Suliman, Paulina Villegas
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