Following a delay of three hours, the ceasefire in Gaza is now in effect after Hamas’ spokesperson released the names of three Israeli hostages to be released at 2 pm GMT today.
Israel had begun relentless attacks in Palestine after Hamas took more than 300 Israelis as hostages after conducting an offensive. More than 45000 Palestinians including women and children have since been killed in the daily hostilities.
According to a statement by Hamas, Israeli women hostages to be released on Sunday are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari. The Israeli prime minister’s office also said that four other living hostages would be released in seven days.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that Gaza’s ceasefire, due to start at 0630 GMT on Sunday, would not begin until Hamas provided a list of hostages to be released.
Netanyahu’s announcement comes one hour before the ceasefire deadline. Hostages were expected to be released within hours of the start of the ceasefire, opening the way to a possible end to a 15-month war that has upended the Middle East.
Israel’s military warned Gaza residents not to approach its troops or move around the Palestinian territory ahead of the ceasefire deadline, adding when movement is allowed “a statement and instructions will be issued on safe transit methods”.
The ceasefire agreement followed months of on-off negotiations brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, and came just ahead of the January 20 inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
