A long-anticipated ceasefire in Gaza took effect late Sunday morning following a three-hour delay, during which Hamas identified three female hostages it plans to release later in the day. Israel had insisted the ceasefire would not commence until the names were provided, emphasizing the precariousness of the agreement intended to halt weeks of intense conflict.
The truce, which began at 11:15 a.m. local time, is viewed as a pivotal step toward ending hostilities and securing the release of nearly 100 hostages taken during the October 7 Hamas attack.
An Israeli official confirmed the identities of the three hostages set for release:
- Romi Gonen, 24, abducted from the Nova music festival.
- Emily Damari, 28, an Israeli-British dual citizen taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
- Doron Steinbrecher, 31, also from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
The hostages’ families approved the publication of their names, according to the official.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of breaching its obligation to provide the hostages’ names prior to the originally scheduled start of the ceasefire. In response, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in Gaza, resulting in casualties even after the ceasefire’s intended commencement time.
An airstrike in Khan Younis reportedly killed eight people, with Nasser Hospital confirming the deaths. The Gaza Health Ministry also reported three fatalities in Gaza City.
Hamas attributed the delay to “technical field reasons” and reiterated its commitment to the truce.
Domestically, opposition to the ceasefire intensified. The Jewish Power party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, announced its resignation from Netanyahu’s coalition government in protest. While this weakens Netanyahu’s governing majority, it does not impact the ceasefire agreement.
In a separate announcement, Israel revealed it had recovered the body of Oron Shaul, an Israeli soldier killed in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. Shaul’s body, along with that of another soldier, Hadar Goldin, had remained in Gaza since the 2014 conflict, despite ongoing efforts by their families to secure their return.
The truce has brought moments of relief and celebration in Gaza, but the underlying tensions and continued violence underscore the fragility of the agreement.
