Gaza hostage-release humanitarian pause (2023)
⏻ ExpiredA Qatar-, Egypt-, and U.S.-mediated pause stopped fighting for seven days in November 2023 while hostages and Palestinian prisoners were exchanged and aid entered Gaza. The final extension ended December 1 and hostilities resumed.
The pause began on November 24, 2023 for an initial four days. Hamas released groups of Israeli and foreign hostages, Israel released Palestinian prisoners, and substantially more humanitarian aid entered Gaza. Mediators extended the arrangement until November 30.
The pause lasted seven days. Fighting resumed on December 1 after negotiators failed to secure another extension. Because this was a time-limited humanitarian pause whose extensions ended, the record is marked expired, not assigned to one side as a proven breach.
Duration: Four days initially; extended to seven days, November 24–December 1, 2023
- Cessation of military activity during the pause
- Phased release of hostages held in Gaza
- Release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel
- Expanded entry of humanitarian aid and fuel
Sources
- Qatar MFA — Final one-day extension of the humanitarian pause
- United Nations — Resumption of hostilities, December 1, 2023
- UN Security Council Resolution 2720 — welcomes the implemented pause
- World Food Programme — Aid delivered during the pause
Last updated 2026-07-17