Thirteen women and children held hostage by fighters in Gaza are set to be the first to be released as the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas begins at 7 am local time on Friday, according to Qatar.

Dr. Majed al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, stated that they received a list of the civilians to be freed, and families would be given priority.

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The agreement, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, includes the Red Cross visiting the hostages and delivering medicines.

It also allows for the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian, medical, and fuel supplies into Gaza, with Israel halting air missions over southern Gaza and maintaining a daily six-hour daytime no-fly window in the north.

The truce is expected to bring relief to Gaza, although it is noted that the humanitarian aid is only a fraction of what is needed.

The ceasefire, initially set for 10 am on Thursday after six weeks of fighting, faced delays due to difficult and detailed discussions to ensure the safe release of hostages.

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Hamas agreed to free 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel releasing 150 Palestinian women and children from its jails.

The duration of the truce may extend beyond four days if the fighters release at least 10 hostages per day, as per Israel’s conditions.