A much-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas eventually came into effect on Sunday after a three-hour postponement, caused by disagreements regarding the names of three female hostages that Hamas promised to free under the agreement.
The ceasefire, initially scheduled to start at 8.30 am local time, was delayed until Hamas disclosed the names of the hostages, a condition that Israel insisted on before ceasing its military actions in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of not fulfilling its promise to submit the names prior to the scheduled ceasefire.
While waiting for the information, the Israeli military persisted with its assaults on Gaza, resulting in reports of at least 13 Palestinians dead and 30 additional individuals injured during the postponement.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would continue its endeavors until it confirmed the hostages’ identities and followed the ceasefire conditions.
Hamas, attributing the postponement to “technical field reasons,” ultimately disclosed the identities of the three women – Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher – who are scheduled to be released later on Sunday.
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The ceasefire deal, revealed earlier this week, represents a temporary halt in the current conflict and an essential move in attempts to tackle the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, three Israeli hostages are anticipated to be released on Sunday, with the procedure expected to begin after 4 p.m. local time. A total of 33 Israeli captives in Gaza are scheduled to be released in the initial phase of the ceasefire, intended to continue for six weeks.
