The long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza has officially begun, with Hamas releasing the names of three Israeli women hostages to be freed as part of the agreement.
Under the ceasefire terms, Hamas has agreed to release hostages in exchange for a pause in Israeli military operations. Despite this, Israeli forces continued their offensive until the last moments, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that the ceasefire would not proceed unless Hamas provided the list of hostages to be released.
In a recent development, Hamas announced the names of three Israeli women—24-year-old Rumi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Stein Brecher—who were taken hostage during the October 7, 2023, Nova Festival attack. These women are expected to be handed over to the Red Cross and released later today.
The Israeli government has confirmed receiving the list and stated that the ceasefire is now in full effect. Initially scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM local time, the implementation was delayed due to the late submission of the hostage list by Hamas.
The release of hostages marks a significant step in the ceasefire agreement, providing a glimmer of hope for de-escalation in the ongoing conflict. However, tensions remain high as both sides navigate the fragile truce.
