JERUSALEM – Israel yesterday said a truce with Hamas began in Gaza at 0915 GMT, nearly three hours after initially scheduled, following a last-minute delay on the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During the delay, Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed eight people.
A statement from Netanyahu’s office, issued less than an hour before the truce had been set to start at 8h30 am (0630 GMT), said he had “instructed the IDF (military) that the ceasefire… will not begin until Israel has received the list” of hostages to be freed.
Hamas attributed the delay to “technical reasons”, as well as the “complexities of the field situation and the continued bombing”, ultimately publishing at around 10:30 am the names of three Israeli women to be released on Sunday.
Israel confirmed it had received the list and was “checking the details”, before confirming shortly afterwards that the truce would begin at 11h15 am local time.
AFPTV live images from northeastern Gaza showed a plume of grey smoke about 30 minutes after the truce was earlier to take effect, and again around 30 minutes later.
The Israeli military con f i rmed it was continuing “to strike within the Gaza area” following Netanyahu’s directive.
Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said three people were killed in the north of the territory and five in Gaza City, with 25 wounded.
AFP images showed d i spl a c ed Gazans streaming northwards from areas around Gaza City where they had been sheltering, some flashing the victory sign.
But others saw their plans to return home thwarted by the delay of the ceasefire.
“I was on my way home with my family when we heard the sound of bombing,” said Mohammed Baraka (36).
“We can’t reach our house; the situation is dangerous. I don’t know what to do. I feel frustrated and devastated.”
The initial exchange was to see three Israeli hostages released from captivity in return for a first group of Palestinian prisoners.
A total of 33 hostages taken by militants during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel will be returned from Gaza during an initial 42-day truce.
Under the deal, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails.
The truce is intended to pave the way for an end to more than 15 months of war sparked by Hamas’s attack, the deadliest in Israeli history.
It follows a deal struck by mediators Qatar, the United States and Egypt after months of negotiations, and takes effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president.
In a televised address on Saturday, Netanyahu called the 42-day first phase a “temporary ceasefire” and said Israel had US support to return to war if necessary.
In Gaza City, shortly after the deal was initially meant to go into effect, people were already celebrating, waving Palestinian flags in the street.
But as it became clear the hostilities were continuing, the joy gave way to desperation for some.
“I’m dying of despair,” said Maha Abed, a 27-year-old displaced from Rafah, who had been waiting since dawn for her husband to pick her up and take her home. “He called to tell me we won’t be returning today.
The drones are firing at civilians.” “Enough playing with our emotions — we’re exhausted,” she added. “I don’t want to spend another night in this tent.”
In Deir al-Balah, an AFP journalist observed dozens of Palestinians gathered in front of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, seeking information about the unfolding events, particularly whether or not they would be able to return to their homes.
The Israeli army warned Gaza residents early Sunday not to approach its forces or Israeli territory.
“We urge you not to head towards the buffer zone or IDF forces for your safety,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram.
“At this stage, heading towards the buffer zone or moving from south to north via Gaza Valley puts you at risk.”
At a rally for the hostages in Tel Aviv the night before, attendees were guarded ahead of the scheduled exchanges.
– Nampa/AFP