A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday after a nearly three-hour delay, pausing a 15-month-old war that has brought devastation and seismic political change to the Middle East.
Residents and a medical worker in Gaza said that they had heard no new fighting or military strikes since about half an hour before it was finally implemented.
Israeli air strikes and artillery attacks killed 13 Palestinians between 0630 GMT, when the ceasefire was meant to begin, and 0915 GMT (1115am local time), when it actually took effect, Palestinian doctors said.
Hamas’s armed wing had named three female Israeli hostages it plans to release, clearing the way for the ceasefire to start taking effect, albeit later than anticipated.
The three hostages are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, who is also a British national, Hamas said.
Israel then said the ceasefire would begin at 11.15am. “According to the plan for the release of the hostages, the ceasefire for phase one in Gaza will come into effect at 11:15 (local time),” said a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
It said the release of the three hostages would take place after 1400 GMT (4pm local time) on Sunday. It also said four other female hostages would be freed in seven days.