Gaza ceasefire begins after delay; end to 15 months of war and cry

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Israel: A truce between Israel and Hamas began in Gaza on Sunday at 9.15 GMT, nearly three hours later than initially scheduled, due to a last-minute delay ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the delay, Gaza's civil defence agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed eight people and wounded 25 others.
A statement from Netanyahu's office issued less than an hour before the truce had been set to start at 6.30 GMT, said he had "instructed the IDF (military) that the ceasefire... will not begin until Israel has received the list'' of hostages to be freed.
Hamas attributed the delay to "technical reasons," the "complexities of the field situation," and continued Israeli bombings. By 10.30 am local time, Hamas released the names of three Israeli women hostages to be freed on Sunday.
Shortly afterwards, Israel confirmed receipt of the list and announced the truce would commence at 11.15 am local time. However, Israeli strikes continued within Gaza during the interim, as confirmed by the IDF. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal reported three fatalities in northern Gaza and five in Gaza City.
Displaced residents of Gaza were seen moving northward, hoping to return home. However, many expressed frustration over the delay and continued danger. ''I was on my way home with my family when we heard the sound of bombing,'' said 36-year-old Mohammed Baraka. ''We can’t reach our house. The situation is dangerous. I feel frustrated and devastated.”
The ceasefire deal, mediated by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt after months of negotiations, aims to pave the way for peace following more than 15 months of conflict sparked by Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. During the initial phase of the truce, 33 hostages taken by Hamas will be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, confirmed the truce and the details of the initial hostage release. ''The names of the three hostages, including one with Romanian citizenship and another with British citizenship, have been handed over to the Israeli side. Thus, the ceasefire has officially begun,'' he said in a statement.
In a televised address on Saturday, Netanyahu referred to the truce as a "temporary ceasefire" and reiterated Israel’s right, with US support, to return to military operations if necessary.
Playing with our emotions
In Gaza City, shortly after the deal was initially meant to go into effect, people were already celebrating, waving Palestinian flags in the street. But as it became clear the hostilities were continuing, the joy gave way to desperation for some.
"I'm dying of despair," said Maha Abed, a 27-year-old displaced from Rafah who had been waiting since dawn for her husband to pick her up and take her home. "He called to tell me we won't be returning today. The drones are firing at civilians. Enough playing with our emotions -- we're exhausted," she added. "I don't want to spend another night in this tent."
In Deir al-Balah, an AFP journalist observed dozens of Palestinians gathered in front of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital seeking information about the unfolding events, particularly whether or not they would be able to return to their homes. The Israeli army warned Gaza residents early Sunday not to approach its forces or Israeli territory.
"We urge you not to head towards the buffer zone or IDF forces for your safety," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram. "At this stage, heading towards the buffer zone or moving from south to north via Gaza Valley puts you at risk." At a rally for the hostages in Tel Aviv the night before, attendees were guarded ahead of the scheduled exchanges. "I'm really stressed because I don't know about the situation of Ofer, my cousin," said Ifat Kaldron, whose cousin is among the hostages. "I'm just going to be happy whenever I see the last hostage crossing the border."