The much-anticipated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has finally taken effect in Gaza, following a tense three-hour delay that saw at least 19 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes.
The truce faced a dramatic hold-up as Israel insisted fighting would not stop until Hamas provided the names of the first three hostages to be released.
Hamas attributed the delay to a “technical” issue, but the ceasefire was only confirmed after Israel received the names.
The three hostages, identified by Hamas, are Romi Gonen, 24; Doron Steinbrecher, 31; and Emily Damari, 28, a dual UK-Israeli citizen.
In exchange, approximately 30 Palestinian prisoners will be freed for each Israeli hostage.
In this initial phase of the deal, 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza and nearly 2,000 Palestinians are expected to gain their freedom.
However, the exact time of the release of the three female hostages on Sunday remains uncertain, with the Israeli government hinting at a timeline after 9 a.m. ET.
As part of the ceasefire terms, Israel has begun withdrawing from several population centers in both southern and northern Gaza while maintaining a presence along Gaza’s borders and a key dividing road.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is preparing to take custody of the three hostages in Gaza, marking a pivotal step in this fragile truce.