Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the first phase of the ceasefire came into force Sunday at 0915 GMT.

The ceasefire was originally scheduled to start at 8.30 a.m. local time (0630GMT), but it was delayed after Israel accused Hamas of delaying the release of a list of Israeli captives set to be released on Sunday.

Hamas said that it already submitted a list of three female Israeli captives set to be freed on Sunday.

Abu Obaida, spokesman of Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, identified the three captives as Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.

Mediator Qatar also confirmed that the cease-fire took effect in Gaza after the names of the three captives set to be released on Sunday were handed over to Israel.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said the three captives include one with Romanian citizenship and another with British citizenship.

"Therefore, the cease-fire begins" in Gaza, the spokesman said on X.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli war on Gaza has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

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Gaza security forces deploy across enclave as ceasefire begins

Government media office says deployment comes under plan to maintain security, order across Gaza

Thousands of Gaza security forces deployed in several areas across the enclave on Sunday as a ceasefire deal with Israel took effect, local authorities said.

Gaza’s government media office said the deployment comes under a plan to maintain security and order across the territory.

"Municipalities began reopening and rehabilitating streets, shortly after the cease-fire began,” it added in a statement.

The media office said ministries and government institutions “are fully prepared to start work under a government plan to ensure the return of life to normal as soon as possible.”

It urged residents “to be careful when moving between regions” in Gaza.

“The return of the displaced will be seven days after the ceasefire takes effect,” it added.

The ceasefire agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours delay due to Israeli accusations for Hamas of delaying the release of a list of captives set to be released. It was originally scheduled to start on 8.30 a.m. local time (0630GMT)

Hamas said that it already submitted a list of three female Israeli captives set to be freed on Sunday.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

AA