A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday after a nearly three-hour delay, pausing the 15-month-old war that has brought devastation and seismic political change to the Middle East.
Residents and a medical worker in Gaza reported that no new fighting or military strikes were heard since about half an hour before the ceasefire was finally implemented.
During the delay, Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks killed 13 Palestinians between 0630 GMT, when the ceasefire was supposed to begin, and 0915 GMT, when it actually took effect, according to Palestinian medics.
Israel blamed Hamas for the delay, citing the militant group's failure to provide a list of the first three hostages to be released under the deal. In response, Hamas attributed the delay to unspecified \"technical\" reasons.
A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that mediators had requested 48 hours of \"calm\" before implementing the ceasefire. However, continued Israeli strikes up until the deadline complicated the submission of the hostage list.
Two hours after the deadline, Hamas announced it had sent the list of names, which Israeli officials confirmed receiving. The hostages named by Hamas for release on Sunday are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari. Israel has yet to immediately confirm these names.
The highly anticipated ceasefire could mark the end of the Gaza war, which erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths, according to Israeli authorities. In Gaza, the toll has risen to nearly 47,000 Palestinian deaths, as reported by local health authorities.
The conflict has also intensified tensions across the Middle East, with Iran backing Hamas and other anti-Israeli and anti-American paramilitary groups in the region.
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Gaza ceasefire deal takes effect and fighting halts after delay
cgtn.com
