After 15 months of conflict in Gaza, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas finally came into effect at 11:15 local time, three hours later than initially scheduled. The delay occurred as Hamas had not submitted the names of hostages it would release today, according to Israeli officials.
Israel confirmed it received the list of hostages from Hamas earlier in the day, while it had already provided its list of Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of the agreement.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the release of three hostages by Hamas would occur after 16:00 local time.
The truce, announced on Wednesday, was supposed to begin at 08:30, but continued Israeli airstrikes on Gaza between 08:30 and 11:15 killed at least 13 people. Israeli officials cited the delay in Hamas naming the hostages as the reason for ongoing military operations.
Hamas attributed the postponement to “field complications and ongoing bombardments.” Shortly after 11:00, the group released the names of three Israeli hostages to be freed today: Romi Gonen, 24; British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, according to Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
Hamas also announced that four additional female hostages, currently alive, would be released in seven days.
According to the BBC, the three hostages set for release today are all women. They include Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher.
Doron Steinbrecher, a 31-year-old veterinary nurse, was kidnapped from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Emily Damari, 28, a British-Israeli citizen, was also taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the same attack. The third woman, 24-year-old Romi Gonen, attempted to escape during the Hamas assault on the Supernova Festival but was captured and has been held since then.
The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has been delayed as Hamas failed to meet its obligation to provide Israel with a list of hostages set to be released on the first day of the truce, according to Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari.
The ceasefire, which was scheduled to begin at 08:30 local time (Cyprus time), had not come into effect by the designated hour. Israeli tanks continued to shell Gaza, resulting in at least 8 deaths and 25 injuries.
Israel Demands Hostage List
An Israeli military spokesperson stated that the ceasefire in Gaza would not take effect unless Hamas fulfilled its obligation to provide a list of hostages set to be freed. “The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are prepared to implement the ceasefire but stand ready to respond if Hamas fails to meet the terms of the agreement,” the spokesperson added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to withhold enforcement of the truce until the hostage list is delivered. “The Prime Minister has directed the armed forces to delay the ceasefire until Israel has received the list of abductees to be released, as Hamas committed to provide,” a statement from his office confirmed.
Hamas Calls for Patience
Hamas reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire but attributed the delay in providing the hostage list to “technical reasons.”
Key Developments
- Hostage Release Delays: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to delay enforcing the ceasefire until Hamas provided a list of hostages to be freed in the initial phase. Hamas attributed the delay in releasing the names to “technical reasons” but reiterated its commitment to the truce.
- Israeli Military Movements: Reports from Hamas-linked media suggested Israeli troops began withdrawing from areas in Rafah early Sunday, though this remains unconfirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
- Temporary Truce: Netanyahu emphasised that the ceasefire is temporary, stating that Israel retains the right to resume military action if necessary, with U.S. backing.
The Agreement
The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar and the U.S. and approved by Israel’s cabinet early Saturday, includes provisions for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It is seen as a step toward ending a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Gaza.
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, expressed hope that the agreement would lead to a “definitive end to the war.”
Recent Escalation
Despite the impending ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued until Sunday morning, killing over 100 people since Wednesday, according to Palestinian civil protection authorities.
Political and Humanitarian Dynamics
The Israeli cabinet approved the deal despite opposition from far-right ministers. Meanwhile, Hamas has publicly endorsed the agreement and vowed to abide by its terms.
