The first phase of the long-awaited ceasefire agreement in Gaza began almost three hours late, with Hamas preparing to release three Israeli hostages later on Sunday.
The ceasefire was due to begin at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT), but Israel said Hamas had not released the names of the first hostages to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas cited “technical reasons”.
Nineteen Palestinians were reportedly killed as the Israeli army struck what it called “terrorist targets” in Gaza after the initial deadline expired.
The ceasefire finally came into effect at 11:15 a.m., after Israel received the names of the hostages. Ombudsman Qatar said they included Anglo-Israeli and Romanian-Israeli dual nationals.
A Hamas statement identified three women: Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a Romanian citizen, and Emily Damari, 28, the only British national still detained after 15 months of devastating war.
The Israeli government has not confirmed the names, but he said the women were among 33 Israeli hostages to be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners during the first six-week phase of the transaction.
Israeli forces will also withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning home and hundreds of humanitarian trucks will be allowed to enter the territory each day.
Negotiations for the second phase – which should see the release of the remaining hostages, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and “the restoration of lasting calm” – will begin on the 16th day.
The third and final step will involve rebuilding Gaza – which could take years – and returning the bodies of the remaining hostages.
On Saturday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that any ceasefire would be “temporary” and that Israel reserved the right to resume the war, with US support, if it failed.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas – which is banned as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and others – in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1 200 people were killed and 251 were taken away. hostage.
Since then, nearly 47,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. Most of the 2.3 million people have also been displaced, destruction is widespread and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter due to the struggle to deliver aid to those who need it.
Israel says 94 of the hostages are still held by Hamas, 34 of whom are presumed dead. Additionally, three Israelis were kidnapped before the war, one of whom died.
On Sunday morning, the Israeli army announced that special forces had recovered the body of Staff Sergeant Oron Shaulan Israeli soldier killed during the 2014 Gaza war.
