LONDON

The World Health Organization on Friday welcomed the start of a humanitarian pause in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.


"We welcome the start of the humanitarian pause in Gaza and the movement of humanitarian aid, including for health," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.


"It's a step in the right direction, but much more is needed. We continue to call for sustained ceasefire to end further civilian suffering."

Under the agreement on the four-day humanitarian pause in Gaza, 50 Israelis held by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.

The four-day humanitarian pause between the Israeli army and Palestinian group Hamas came into effect on Friday morning in all areas of the Gaza Strip, temporarily stopping attacks for prisoner exchange and aid.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack, killing more than 14,854 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.