DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (NEWSnet/AP) — A four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas began Friday, allowing sorely needed aid to flow into Gaza and setting the stage for the release of dozens of hostages held by militants and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

There were no reports of fighting in the hours after the truce began. The deal offered some relief for Gaza's 2.3 million people, who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment and dwindling supply of basic necessities.

The truce raised hopes of an eventual wind-down of the war. Israel, however, has said it is determined to resume its offensive after the cease-fire ends.

United Nations aid agencies dispute  the claim, saying fuel deliveries were supervised closely and necessary to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, since fuel is required to run generators that power hospitals and water treatment facilities.

During the cease-fire, Gaza’s ruling Hamas group pledged to free at least 50 of the about 240 hostages it and other militants took on Oct. 7. Hamas said Israel would free 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Both sides agreed release women and children first, starting Friday afternoon. Israel said the deal calls for the truce to be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

The first hostages freed will be Israeli citizens, including some who have a second nationality, according to a Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the details with media.

Israel’s Justice Ministry published a list of 300 prisoners eligible for release, mainly teenagers detained over the past year for rock-throwing and other minor offenses. Three Palestinian prisoners are to be released for every hostage freed.

The hope is that the “momentum” from it will lead to an “end to this violence,” Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, told reporters.

But hours before the deal came into effect, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was quoted telling troops their respite will be short and the war will resume and continue for at least two additional months.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

Not long after the pause took effect, four fuel tankers and four tankers with cooking gas entered Gaza Strip from Egypt, Israel said.

Israel has agreed to allow the delivery of 34,340 gallons of fuel per day during the truce. That’s only a portion of Gaza’s estimated daily need for more than 1 million liters.

For most of the past seven weeks of war, Israel had barred most entry of fuel to Gaza, claiming it could be used by Hamas for military purposes.

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