2023 Israel–Hamas ceasefire facts for kids
A temporary break in fighting, called a ceasefire, happened between Israel and groups in the Gaza Strip. This ceasefire lasted from November 24 to November 30, 2023, during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.
The first agreement was arranged by Qatar. It said there would be a four-day pause in fighting. During this time, 50 Israeli people held in Gaza and 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israel were to be set free. Also, more help, like food and medicine, would be allowed into Gaza. The ceasefire could be made longer if more people were released.
On November 27, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the ceasefire was extended for two more days. This meant 20 more Israelis and 60 more Palestinians would be released. Near the end of this first extension, on November 30, the groups agreed to extend the break for one more day. Mediators in Qatar and Egypt said they were working to make the ceasefire last even longer.
Many countries around the world, including the United States, were happy about the deal and its extensions. However, both sides later said the other side broke the rules of the ceasefire. On December 1, the ceasefire ended. Hamas said Israel refused a deal to exchange more people to keep the break going. After that, Hamas launched rockets into Sderot. Israel then responded with air attacks on Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported 20 deaths.
Why the Ceasefire Happened
On October 7, 2023, during an attack on Israel, groups from Palestine captured or took about 250 people. These included both soldiers and regular people from Israel. They were taken back to the Gaza Strip. By November 23, four of these people had been set free by Hamas. Two were found dead near the al-Shifa Hospital, and one person was rescued.
Ideas for Releasing People
Hamas suggested a "everyone for everyone" deal. This meant that Palestinian groups would release all the Israeli people they held. In return, Israel would release all Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Before the war, Israel held 5,200 Palestinians. But Palestinian officials said this number grew to over 10,000 because of many arrests. After thousands of Gazan workers who were held were sent away, the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs said the number was about 8,300.
Many of these prisoners are held under a process called administrative detention. This means people can be held without a trial. Human rights groups criticize this process because it mainly applies to Palestinians in the West Bank. Some were arrested for things like speaking out or peaceful protests.
Families of the people held in Gaza asked the Israeli government to agree to the "everyone for everyone" deal. They said "all of Israel" supported it. But Israel's Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, said no to the offer. He insisted that Israel would free the people by force. Several countries and international groups have asked for temporary or permanent ceasefires since the war started. Many countries have been involved in talks between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar leading the way.
