Gaza ceasefire takes effect, Hamas names first Israeli hostages to be freed
Earlier in the day, Israel had continued strikes across Gaza during a three-hour delay in implementing the truce, killing at least 19 persons.
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A ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas took effect on Sunday after a nearly three-hour delay, reported Al-Jazeera.
As part of the agreement, Hamas has provided mediators with the names of three Israeli hostages who are set to be released on the first day of the ceasefire’s implementation in Gaza.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the ceasefire would not begin until Hamas released the names of the captives. The Palestinian group had attributed the delay to technical reasons.
The Israeli army on Sunday continued strikes across Gaza during the three-hour delay in implementing the ceasefire, killing at least 19 persons, the BBC reported, citing figures from the Hamas-run civil defence agency.
The truce eventually began at 11.15 local time, or 2.45 pm as per Indian Standard Time.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said that it has 4,000 truckloads of aid ready to enter Gaza, with half of them carrying food and flour.
“Attacks on aid convoys in the Gaza Strip could decline as humanitarian relief comes in following a ceasefire,” the agency’s head Philippe Lazzarini said.
The agreement with Palestinian militant group Hamas will pause the conflict that started 15 months ago.
On Wednesday, Qatar announced that Israel and Hamas had reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. Doha was the key...
