Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal comes into force after delay

The first phase of a long-awaited Gaza ceasefire agreement began after a nearly three-hour delay, with Hamas set to release three Israeli hostages later on Sunday.

The ceasefire was due to begin at 08:30 (0630 GMT), but Israel said Hamas had not released the names of the first hostages to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas blamed “technical reasons”.

Nineteen Palestinians were reportedly killed as the Israeli military struck so-called “terrorist targets” in Gaza after an initial deadline passed.

The cease-fire eventually took effect at 11:15 a.m. after Israel received the names of the hostages. Mediator Qatar said they included British-Israeli and Romanian-Israeli dual nationals.

A Hamas statement identified the three women as Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a Romanian national, and Emily Damari, 28, who is the only British national still in custody after 15 months of devastating war.

The Israeli government has not confirmed the names, but she said the women were among 33 Israeli hostages to be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners during the first six-week phase of the deal.

Israeli forces will also withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza, displaced Palestinians will be able to begin returning to their homes and hundreds of aid trucks will be allowed into the territory each day.

Talks on the second phase – which should lead to the release of the remaining hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops and the “restoration of sustainable calm” – will begin on the 16th.

The third and final stage will involve the recovery of Gaza – something that could take years – and the return of any remaining bodies of hostages.

On Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that any truce 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 US and others – in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

More than 46,910 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry. Most of the 2.3 million people have also been displaced, with widespread destruction and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter due to the struggle to get aid to those in need.

Israel claims 94 of the hostages are still being held by Hamas, of whom 34 are believed to be dead. In addition, there are three Israelis who were kidnapped before the war, one of whom is dead.

on sunday morning the Israeli army announced that special forces recovered the body of Staff Sergeant Oron ShaulIsraeli soldier killed in 2014 in the war in Gaza.