Gaza ceasefire begins after Hamas releases list of hostages

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A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has come into effect following a delay of nearly three hours, during which Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Palestinians.

The agreement’s implementation began after Israel confirmed it had received the names of three captives who are set to be freed as part of the first phase of the deal.

Israel has received the list of hostages set to be released by Hamas, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

The statement added that the security establishment is currently reviewing the details, and the families of the hostages have been notified by the Israeli military.

Hamas has named three Israeli captives to be released as part of the ceasefire deal in Gaza, a spokesperson for the group announced on Telegram.

Abu Obeida confirmed that Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Shtanbar Khair, 31, will be freed. The move comes after an hours-long delay in implementing the truce.

Israeli media reported that the names have been handed over to Israel through Qatar, which is mediating the exchange process. The captives are believed to be civilians rather than soldiers.

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to delay the planned Gaza ceasefire until Hamas provides a list of captives set for release, his office said on Sunday.

“The prime minister instructed the IDF that the ceasefire, which is supposed to go into effect at 8:30am (06:30 GMT), will not begin until Israel has the list of released abductees that Hamas has pledged to provide,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Hamas, in response, blamed the delay on “technical field reasons” but reaffirmed its commitment to the truce agreement reached last week.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari reiterated that the truce would not commence until Hamas submitted the names of the three hostages expected to be freed first.

Netanyahu’s announcement came hours after he asserted that Israel retained the right to resume military operations if the second phase of the ceasefire failed.

Under the 42-day first phase of the deal, Hamas is set to release 33 captives, while Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli forces will withdraw into a designated buffer zone, allowing some displaced Palestinians to return home. Humanitarian aid is also expected to increase.

The agreement marks only the second pause in the conflict, with negotiations for a permanent ceasefire expected to begin in two weeks.

However, key issues remain unresolved, including the fate of nearly 100 other captives still held in Gaza and whether hostilities will resume once the six-week truce ends.

Israel’s cabinet approved the ceasefire on Saturday in an unusual session during the Jewish Sabbath, after more than two days of deliberations.

Both outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have urged both sides to finalise the deal ahead of Monday’s U.S. presidential inauguration.