A ceasefire in Gaza began Sunday after a three-hour delay, marking a significant but tenuous step toward ending the prolonged conflict. Celebrations broke out across the war-torn territory, with some Palestinians cautiously returning to their homes. However, the delay highlighted the fragility of the agreement.
The truce officially started at 11:15 a.m. local time, following intense negotiations over the release of hostages. Hamas named three female hostages it plans to free later on Sunday, a key demand by Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to continue military action until the names were provided, leading to a brief continuation of hostilities.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s top military spokesman, stated the army “continues to attack” until Hamas met its commitments. Israeli airstrikes killed at least eight people in Khan Younis and three in Gaza City on Sunday morning, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and local hospital reports.
Hamas attributed the delay in providing the names to “technical field reasons” but reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement reached after a year of mediation by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
The first phase of the truce, lasting 42 days, aims to secure the release of 33 hostages from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israeli forces are expected to pull back into a buffer zone within Gaza, enabling some displaced residents to return to their homes. Humanitarian aid is also set to increase significantly during this period.
This ceasefire represents a pivotal moment in the 15-month war, being longer and more comprehensive than the weeklong pause implemented over a year ago. However, the next steps are fraught with challenges. Negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire are expected to start in two weeks, addressing the release of the remaining hostages and the broader question of whether hostilities will resume after the six-week initial phase.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire triggered celebrations in Gaza, particularly in Khan Younis, where residents took to the streets to express relief. Armed Hamas fighters and supporters of other militant groups, including Islamic Jihad, were seen joining the revelry, alongside members of Gaza’s Civil Defence in a parade.
In a separate development, Israel announced the recovery of the body of Oron Shaul, an Israeli soldier killed in the 2014 conflict with Hamas. His body and that of another soldier, Hadar Goldin, had remained in Gaza despite a years-long campaign by their families for their return.
The ceasefire’s implementation also exposed political tensions within Israel. Members of the Jewish Power party, led by hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, resigned from Netanyahu’s Cabinet in protest of the truce. Despite their departure, the ceasefire is expected to proceed as planned.
Netanyahu emphasized that the ceasefire would only begin once Israel had the names of the hostages. “I have instructed the military that the ceasefire will not begin until Israel has in its possession the list of hostages to be freed, which Hamas committed to provide,” he said.
As negotiations continue, the situation in Gaza remains uncertain, with hopes for a long-term resolution tempered by the complexities of the conflict.
