Gaza Ceasefire In Effect After Delay As Hamas Names Hostages To Be Released Sunday
HuffPost
Israel had earlier said it would continue fighting in Gaza until the names were handed over in accordance with the agreement.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza began after a three-hour delay as Hamas named the three female hostages it plans to free later on Sunday. Israel had vowed to keep fighting until it received the names, as the long and uncertain process aimed at ending the war got off to a bumpy start.
Celebrations erupted across the war-ravaged territory and some Palestinians began returning to their homes despite the delay, which underscored the fragility of the agreement. The truce, which started at 11:15 a.m. local time, is a first step toward ultimately ending the conflict and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered it.
Israeli media reported that Romi Gonen, 24, who was abducted from a music festival and appeared on the Hamas list, is set to be released, citing her brother’s social media. Israel has not confirmed any of the three names provided by Hamas, and the other two families have not yet commented.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Hamas had not lived up to its commitment to provide the names of the three hostages it was set to release in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners. The military said it would continue to attack targets in Gaza until the names were provided.
An Israeli airstrike killed at least eight people in the southern city of Khan Younis after the ceasefire was delayed. Nasser Hospital confirmed the casualties from Sunday’s strike, which it said had occurred around two hours after the truce was supposed to take effect. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported another three deaths from strikes on Sunday in Gaza City.
The victims included three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
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