Israel-Hamas ceasefire begins after hostage list released, three women to be freed

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas officially began on Sunday after a brief delay caused by Hamas withholding the list of hostages it agreed to release. Initially scheduled for 8:30 am local time, the truce was delayed until 9:15 am GMT when Hamas provided the names of three hostages—Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari. The list was shared through Telegram, allowing the ceasefire to take effect.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously made it clear that the ceasefire would not commence until the list of hostages to be released was confirmed. Netanyahu’s office instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to continue operations until the list was received. The release of the hostages is part of a broader agreement in which Israel is set to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages held by Hamas.

The three hostages—Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and Emily Damari, 28—were abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, during the surprise attack that escalated the Israel-Hamas conflict. Gonen was captured while attempting to escape the Supernova music festival, Steinbrecher was taken from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Damari, a British-Israeli citizen, was also seized from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. The releases of these three hostages mark the first phase of the agreement, with more phases expected in the future.

The ceasefire agreement, which also involves the release of Palestinian prisoners, is part of ongoing efforts to de-escalate the conflict. While celebrations were reported in Gaza following the release of the hostage names, the delay in the ceasefire’s activation indicated the fragility of the agreement. The continued release of hostages and prisoners will take place over subsequent phases, although further details and timing remain uncertain.

Despite the ceasefire's activation, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that Israeli forces continued operations until the ceasefire took effect, targeting militant positions in northern and central Gaza. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza's Health Ministry reporting at least three deaths in Gaza City early on Sunday, even as the ceasefire was being implemented.

In Israel, Netanyahu’s coalition government faced internal political challenges. The Jewish Power party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, resigned in protest over the ceasefire agreement, which led to a reduction in the coalition's support. However, Netanyahu's government retains a majority in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, though the resignation may complicate political stability moving forward.