Gaza: Ceasefire Took Effect

Although the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was scheduled to begin on Sunday morning at 8:30 AM, it did not take effect until 11:15 AM. The delay was caused by the fact that the extremist group Hamas did not provide Israel with the list of hostages to be released by the deadline. According to the ceasefire terms, the names of those to be released had to be submitted at least 24 hours before the planned exchange.

Despite the delay, the release of hostages began on Sunday evening. Hamas announced around 5:00 PM the handover of three female hostages to the Red Cross. The handover of the hostages was subsequently confirmed by several media outlets, the Red Cross, and later by the Israeli army.

The released hostages were Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari, and Romi Gonen, whose names Hamas transmitted on Sunday morning after the initial deadline had passed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had emphasized in the morning that the ceasefire would not take effect until Israel received the list of hostages to be released by Hamas. This was followed by an announcement from the Israeli army that attacks in the northern and central Gaza Strip would continue until Hamas fulfilled its obligations.

Hamas later announced that the next group of hostages would be released under the Gaza ceasefire agreement next Saturday, on the seventh day of the ceasefire's commencement.

According to the agreement, Israel is expected to release 90 Palestinian prisoners in return. Around 6:00 PM, reports emerged of a Red Cross bus arriving at the prison where the prisoners to be released were held.

The armed wing of Hamas confirmed in a video message that it would abide by the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as long as Israel did so. They emphasized that their commitment depended on the enemy's reciprocal commitment.

Several events preceded the ceasefire taking effect and the release of hostages:

• Hamas announced in the morning a delay in submitting the names due to "technical reasons."
• Netanyahu's office instructed the Israeli army not to proceed with ceasefire preparations until Israel received the list of hostages to be released.
• Before 11:00 AM on Sunday, Hamas announced that it had handed over the names of three Israeli female hostages it was ready to release to the mediator. Shortly after, Israel confirmed receipt of the list and verification of the data.
• Netanyahu's office stated that Hamas would release four more female hostages over the following week under the ceasefire agreement.
• As of nightfall, the location for the prisoner exchange was still unclear, but the Israeli army had prepared three possible locations near the border.
• The initial 42-day ceasefire plan includes the release of 33 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
• The ceasefire, aimed at paving the way for an end to the more than 15-month war triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, was achieved through mediation by Qatar, the US, and Egypt after months of fruitless talks.

Other significant developments:

• Israel supports a proposal by the US special envoy to extend the Gaza ceasefire.
• US President-elect Donald Trump's security advisor Mike Waltz emphasized that Hamas can never again govern Gaza.
• Hamas announced on Sunday that it was awaiting the list of 90 Palestinian prisoners that Israel should release under the prisoner exchange agreement on the first day of the Gaza ceasefire. Hamas stated that for every civilian hostage, 30 Palestinian prisoners should be released under the ceasefire agreement.
• A far-right party in Netanyahu's ruling coalition, Jewish Power, announced that its ministers were resigning from the government due to the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
• The UN reported that the first trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect.

Avaldatud 19/01/2025