. >> well, hello welcome to our viewers in the united states and around the worm. i'm live from a doha. a four-day truce between israel and hamas seems to be taking place with plans for the hostages to be released later on today. a cnn crew near the border with gaza reports what sounded like israeli artillery fire in the early minutes of the truce but that subsided quickly. the first 13 hostages from israel are expected to be released at or around 4 p.m. israel has agreed to free palestinians over the coming days if hamas keeps freeing the hostages it holds. well, the first aid shipments under this agreement hundreds of trucks with food medical supplies and fuel are scheduled to begin crossing into gaza as part of that deal. let's bring in our correspondent in cairo. we knew there was an enormous convoy including fuel trucks on the egypt side. do we know whether that convoy has begun crossing into gaza at this point? >> this is what we have. seven fuel trucks have crossed into the gaza side of the border which is really significant. and i'll give you sort of the context of that but we know that 200 aid trucks have crossed into the egypt side of the border where they're being checked. we have to remember the challenges with this because they have to be inspected going through x-rays and another checkpoint where the trailies do another check before they can be deployed and distributed in gaza but the numbers 130,000 liters of fuel as well as four gas trucks will enter gaza every single day as long as the truce holds up. 200 trucks of aid have medical supplies food and water is the quota allowed. in order to make that happen you've got to think about the logistics playing out since the deal was struck to try to get aid into gaza over the past few weeks. i'm going to refer what the u.n. said that while they negotiated egypt as well as israel on a day to day base toys get trucks into gaza the final decision how much gets in is in israel's hands and has always been. in terms of the process speaking to egyptian sources here, we also know that the delay really comes from the second checkpoint that is done by israel. the hope is they'll be able to meet the 200 trucks a day quota because we know that more aid definitely does need to go in under this agreement. importantly we have seen some of those trucks and have footage. some aid trucks we saw together for humanity for our brothers in gaza from egyptian humanitarian organization sending goods in. look. the egyptian president says the rafa border was never closed but they're willing to send in. we also spoke to the egyptian health minister but there's always delays on getting people on a list and foreign national's so we will see a lot more action at the rafah border the next few days and these aid trucks everybody gathering at the border for days since wednesday night in anticipation for this truce so i think everyone is on board ready and waiting to try and meet that quota given to them. it's a window of opportunity to alleviate the humanitarian crisis playing out right now. >> thank you elaine. speaking to the mediator in qatar it was a hard earned deal of so many days of intense negotiations. the humanitarian side of this because this is a humanitarian cause in the gaza strip which includes important hostage releases and this humanitarian effort. it is designed to get aid over the border to the infrastructure so the hospitals, the education system, those schools that exist sewage plants to that infrastructure that will help support the hundreds of thousands nearby, the two million people on the ground and need this help most and that fuel is absolutely critical and when i asked the meet crater whether these supplies including the fuel would cross gaza into the north and they said that was the plan. dr. richard brennan is regional director for the world health organization and joins me live from cairo. as we talk and see these images of these first trucks rolling across that border, some 200 a day expected, what are your thoughts? >> well, of course we are delighted that the hostages are starting to be released today as well as seeing those aid trucks going across but i think we have to be very clear this is still a humanitarian catastrophe of enormous scale starting with 200 trucks is a good thing but it's only a dent in the need. we keep saying that prior to the conflict there were 500 trucks going across the border commercial trucks aid trucks on a daily basis so we are still well short of that and we are in a situation of humanitarian crisis of a scale that few have seen in our careers. i was meeting with other united nations agencies yesterday and reflecting on the fact the scale of this crisis is something we have not seen in terms of it's acuteness and the level of aid need. >> that was my partner speaking who said the worst ever and he's been in the business of humanitarian support most if not all his working life. richard brennan it's important that we point that out on the ground, what is the view, what is the feedback to your colleagues? >> well, they've got to try to take advantage of this cause as much as they can of course. so we need to get from the health side we need to get those medicines and supplies to the hospitals that are still functioning. now remember there were 36 hospitals functioning in gaza prior to the conflict. only 11 of them are functioning now and we have to get, we have to protect and stabilize the functioning of those facilities get the supplies in. we are still continuing with medical evacuations from northern gaza because the hospitals there have stopped functioning it's been such a difficult security environment with high levels of violence. of course as you mentioned the fuel is the lifeline for the humanitarian operation. we've got to get those desalinization plants working, the hospital generators working, the ambulances working. so we can make up for the lost ground if you like because we keep slipping behind because of the lack of aid over recent weeks we are making up for lost ground essentially. >> dr. richard brennan you speak about the continued evacuation of patients from hospitals in the north to the south and we know that the director of the al-shiffa hospital which is out of operation was in a w. this o. convoy according to the health authorities in gaza when he was arrested by the idf and taken the hospital has been rates were conducted by the idf convinced that hamas is useing the tunnels be needs that hospital as command and control center though evidence of such is minimal at this point. what do you know about the arrest of the director of that hospital in a who convoy coming out of gaza city? >> yesterday, who led a united nations convoy to evacuate 146 critically ill patients their family members and a number of health staff from al shiffa hospital. there was an unexpected stoppage and a long screening process that went on six hours that was not consistent with the agreement that we had with the israeli authorities before hand. the circumstances of the arrest remain unclear to the convoy leader because a number of members of the convoy were separated out from the group and the convoy leader was unable to engage on discussions for the reasons for those people to be removed and we have not heard the details at this point in time. we have resolved the wish the ministry of health and evacuations are being undertaken today. >> so, let's just be clear about what you're telling me. so the ministry of health in gaza who said they suspended operations with the who and because the director of the hospital had been arrested in a convoy you're saying those operations have restarted? that cooperation between the w.h.o. and the ministry of health in gaza are happening again, is that correct? >> yes, i think when we have more evacuations in collaboration with the minister. >> dr. richard brennan in cairo it's good to have you on sir. thank you very much indeed. still ahead the white house says it is monitoring hamas very closely ahead of the release of the hostages that it holds in gaza. u.u.s. presidedent weighs inin situation n up next.t. >> becky anderson. cnn's reports. >> president biden instruct optimistic tone about the expect whom release on friday speaking to reporters in nantucket he said he wasn't ready to give an update but would once hostages have been released. the white house is focused on the em implementation of this deal and a question was whether americans would be included in the hostage release. it's thehe white h house e expen about 3 americicans wowould be ofof the deal including two wom and that three-year-old abigail whose parents were killed in the october 7 attack. the white house mass a list who they believe will be released on that day but it's unclear whether any americans would in fact be released on friday. president biden says he was hoping that that three-year-old would be part of the list. the u.s. is planning on notifying the families of the american hostages once they're departing gaza. what needs to help is an american official or third party needs to see the hostages and the u.s. would be prepared to notify families but president biden and the white house are hopeful this will move forward and some hostages will be released starting friday. cnn travelling with the president in nantucket massachussetts. >> britain's foreign ministry is visiting the site of the massacre in israel. after the visit cameron said he heard and saw things he wouldn't forget. mass militants stormed the compound killing more than 120 people taking hostages and homes set on prior. cameron met with the prime minister benjamin netanyahu as part after trip that include talks with palestinians. we are taking a quick break. we'll be right back with more news and i'm becky anderson in doha. our programming including the latest from israel and gaza where a four-day truce appears to be taking effect. stay with us. in order for small businesses to thrive, they need to be smart, efficient, savvy. making the most of every opportunity. that's why comcast business is introducing the small business bonus. for a limited time you can get up to a $1000 prepaid card with qualifying internet. yep, $1000. so switch to business internet from the company with the largest fastest reliable network and that powers more businesses than anyone else. learn how you can get $1000 back for your business today. comcast business. powering possibilities. >> well, i'm becky anderson in doha. desperately needed medicine seen rolling toward gaza after the truce went into effect between israel and hamas. an egyptian official said 200 aid trucks would cross into gaza on a daily basis. what is the embedded into this deal brokered by qatar. he said gaza would receive 130,000 leasters of fuel and gas trucks under the truce agreement. israel and hamas may have agreed to a truce four days in the first instance but israel very active on thursday against hezbollah neighboring lebanon. ben wedeman is in beirut. >> lebanese-israeli border saw some intense change of fire between israel and hezbollah a day after israeli strike killed 5 hezbollah fighters including the son of the leader of hezbollah's parliamentary block. according to lebanon official news agency there were almost two dozen individual strikes by hezbollah on israel mostly focusing on military targets. the group claimed they fired 48 rockets on the israeli infantry base and killed four israeli soldiers in a separate attack. israel has yet to comment. israeli military for its part said it launched multiple air and around tilty strikes on what it called hezbollah's infrastructure and rocket launch sites. thursday, iranian foreign minister hayne abdullah met with hezbollah leader nasrallah to consent on ending the war in gaza. during the time there he interviewed on the satellite news channel warning if the truce in gaza doesn't hold the scope of the war will expand, al jezera said they would hold a truce if israel does as well. >> so, let's get a view from the israeli side of the border. as can you sigh gaza looks as if that truce is holding. it's 10:25 a.m. there. this truce started went into effect at 7:00. we did see evidence of activity around the first 15 minutes or so, but it looks as if it's quiet. we have been told by the idf quiet does not mean, truce lull does not mean israeli soldiers won't be moving on the ground there. are thousands in gaza city and north of the enclave now. they as far as they're concerned are allowed to moved around in this field but hostile advertise must stop on both sides. it was qatar who played a key role in mediating this deal, and the lead negotiator told me that it took very intensive work to broker the release deal. cnn's brian todd on how qatar became an essential mediator. >> a pivotal player in getting the hostages freed from hamas captivity is a tiny em rate smaller than the state of connecticut with about a quarter of population of new york city, qatar oil rich nation on peninsula in% gulf ruled by a 43 sheik who took over when his father left ten years ago. analysts say they've been essential in brokering there deal. >> qatar is central. it has relationships with broad range of terrorist groups throughout the region and unsavory regimes. >> they were instrumental in getting four hostages released about two weeks after the current war started and that wasn't qatar's first go around with deals like that. >> qatar lasted a long role in these kinds of prisoner negotiations, most recently playing an important role in getting 5 american prisoners released iran there. were $6 million of iranian funds that were sent to qatar. >> that deal happened in september. analysts say meal creation is one of their marketable skills between international players at odds. >> they are seen as sort of a fair player by many of the different actors in the region. they have some leverage over hamas. >> for years qatar has given sanctuary to figures like hamas top political leader ismael and support for citizens in gaza substantial. >> the state of qatar underwriting the salaries of hamas and palestinian employees and in gaza. >> but qatar has been one of america's closest allies in the middle east allowing the u.s. to main the base of the central can command. >> we ran operations there. >> qatar was crucial in facilitating america's 2021 evacuation from afghanistan maintaining back channel contacts with israel and having relationships with groups like the taliban and al qaeda and allowing dialogue in the region and experts seca tar is willing to do things in hostages or capture militants that the u.s. and others won't. >> the united states typically in the past has not paid ransom but qatar has no qualms about it. >> analysts say tension in the middle east subsides qatar will be under pressure to serve relations with hamas and kick their leaders out of qatar but it's a question whether qatar leaders will take that step. brian todd cnn washington. >> well to be clear both the amir and the u.s. have said there are discussions that will occur after this hostage release about that hamas file here. they will review that file but those discussions will come after the release of these hostages. qatar has been integral to where we are today which is at the outset of what is scheduled to be at least a four-day pause. one, to get some 50 hostages at least released from hamas cab i -- captivity and two, to get a much needed critical humanitarian aid supplies into the gaza strip. prior to the outbreak of the war about 455 trucks entered gaza daily with supplies since october 21st deliveries have averaged just 45 trucks per day and that was only after two weeks of this conflict when nothing got in. residents in gaza say the news of the truce was is a much needed relief. >> [speaking foreign language] >> we hope for a truce. we are tired. the people of gaza are tired. >> we will no longer hear the sound of aircraft and bombardment. we will be able to sit in safety. >> a truce will be a good beginning and the fear in us will go away. >> if there is a truce, we will be mentally relieved. the truce is a mental comfort. >> these people are living on a daily basis what is now for am amman, jordan, what's your perspective? >> thank you for having me this morning. first of all way hear is quite different from what you just shared. we spoke with some of them yesterday and they were very depressed with this truce saying this is not what we need. we need a proper cease fire. this is too small to be more than a short term respite so this is from their own perspective on the grounds. from another perspective looking at the staggering amount of needs in gaza what can we expect to do over four days under current conditions. there is of course going to be a bit of fuel coming, some aid which will be very needed as you said earlier, but this is just a drop in the ocean. we need much more time and much better access, let alone a mechanism at the border that helps bring the right amount of aid through the border and we are very far from that at the moment. >> i want to say that in speaking to the mediators in qatar they have admitted there is much more work to do and they share your organization's aspiration for a sustained cease fire going forward. the israelis have said category which i that's not what will happen and that after this humanitarian pause, the fighting the hostile advertise on their side will begin again and they have said, those facilities that, assault could loose as long has two months. now let's talk about the mechanism on the ground. you say that's critical. it's well for them to bring in 200 trucks a day and fuel, 130 liters of diesel fuel a day, we cannot underscore how important that is to run the humanitarian infrastructure including the sewage facilities and to insure that the gastro infections on the ground don't get out of happen. this is real life stuff going on here. but despite the fact that's baked into in deal you talk about the importance of a mechanism working at that border. explain to our viewers what you understand to be that mechanism and why it is that you are so frustrated with its efficiency. >> sure. so, i've been in a large number of humanitarian crises. i don't think i've ever seen a situation where six weeks into something of this magnitude we are still struggling to gets flings in. the mechanism itself is almost non-existent. it's like as a thing that could work it's almost non-existent. it's a heavy process by which you need to go through a series of actions that will actually bring trucks to our area until they're brought to rafah and come back being off loaded and picked up by trucks on the other side. there is basically impossible. humanitarian response requires something that is efficient because that's the only way to sustain the scale of aid that matches the needs that we are facing. where anywhere farther from that as you said earlier and until we have all the actors agree of the necessity of this happening we will have a continuously growing amount of of risk and death in gaza from health from food from lack of water illness and now the cold. the winter is starting so people have left their home and could not bring blank wealth them and cannot find anywhere to purchase locally so we need to find a way for all this to happen without having thousands of trucks stuck waiting for the green light to get in. >> the thing on the israeli side of course that fuel and those supplies will get taken by hamas and taken away from those who need it most, the civilians on the ground. and to fuel their own efforts in gaza and that is why the israelis say they are absolutely intent on intent those supplies don't get in the wrong hands and taken by hamas. >> what you're describing couldn't be farther from my way of thinking. as a humanitarian what matters i