A long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip came into effect on Sunday after a nearly three-hour delay. The agreement aims to pause a conflict that has deeply reshaped the political and humanitarian landscape in the Middle East.

Ceasefire Implementation

• Initial Delay:

  • The ceasefire was scheduled to begin at 0630 GMT but was delayed until 0915 GMT due to disagreements over the exchange of hostages.
  • Israel accused Hamas of failing to provide a list of hostages, while Hamas cited "technical" reasons for the delay.

• Fatalities Before Ceasefire:

  • During the delay, Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks killed 13 Palestinians, according to Gaza medics.

Hostage Exchange Details

• First Hostages Named by Hamas:

  • Romi Gonen
  • Doron Steinbrecher
  • Emily Damari

• Israel has not immediately confirmed the names.

• Mediator Role:

  • A Palestinian official disclosed that mediators requested 48 hours of calm before the ceasefire, but ongoing strikes hindered progress.

Broader Context

The war began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel. This marked the most intense escalation in years between the two sides.