Ceasefire takes effect in Gaza after three hours delay
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has taken effect after a nearly three-hour delay, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Palestinian enclave.
A spokesman for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had begun.
“We confirm that the names of the three captives who will be released today have been handed over to the Israeli side. They are three Israeli citizens, one of whom holds Romanian citizenship and the other British citizenship. Thus, the ceasefire has begun,” Majed al-Ansari said in a statement.
The ceasefire came into effect at 11:15 am local time (09:15 GMT) on Sunday after Hamas handed over to Israel a list of three female captives to be released as part of the deal.
Three-hour delay proved deadly for at least 19 Palestinians, who were killed by Israeli strikes after last-minute issues over a list of captives.
Just before the truce was about to be enforced, Israel said it would continue its attacks on Gaza as Hamas had not provided a list of captives due to be released.
Hamas said it was committed to the ceasefire and the delay in providing the list was due to "technical field reasons", delivering it later that morning. Due to begin at 8.30 am local time, the ceasefire did not start until 11:15 am.
Hamas named the captives it was to release on Sunday as Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari.
The Government Media Office in Gaza said thousands of Palestinian police officers have been deployed in the territory “as part of a government plan to maintain security and order across various governorates”, adding that municipalities have started “reopening and rehabilitating streets”.
In 15 months since October 7, 2023, Israel killed at least 46,899 Palestinians and wounded 110,725 without counting the carnage on Sunday morning.
