A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip took effect from 24 November 2023 to 30 November 2023, during the Gaza war.
The initial agreement, mediated by Qatar, stipulated a four-day break in fighting during which 50 Israeli hostages held in Gaza and 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israel were to be released and more humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter Gaza, with the ceasefire subject to extension providing additional hostages are released.[1][2][3] On 27 November, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a two-day extension to the ceasefire was agreed in which 20 Israelis and 60 Palestinians would be released. Close to the end of the first extension, on 30 November, another one day extension to the truce was agreed upon by both sides.[4][5] The mediators in Qatar and in Egypt reported they worked to negotiate a further extension of the truce.[6]
The deal was welcomed internationally, including by the United States, which also supported the deal's extensions. Both sides have blamed each other for violating the ceasefire.[7] On 1 December, the truce ended with Hamas alleging that Israel rejected a hostage exchange deal to prolong the truce, and Hamas then launched rockets into Sderot.[8][9][10] Israel responded with air raids on Gaza with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting 20 deaths.[11][12][13] By 2 December negotiations had broken down, with the Israeli delegation leaving Qatar following an impasse and Hamas announcing they will not release any more hostages until the end of the war.[14] The US blamed Hamas for violating the truce and the terms of the ceasefire.[15][16]
By 13 December, Israel and the United States were becoming increasingly isolated amid growing global calls for a ceasefire.[17][18][19][20]