DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas has announced the names of three female hostages it intends to release, doing so just over two hours after the ceasefire was anticipated to begin. Earlier, Israel indicated its intention to continue military action until it was provided with these names.
The announcement came via social media from Hamas’ military branch, but Israel has yet to respond. Following the news, celebrations broke out across the devastated region of Gaza, and some Palestinians began returning to their homes, highlighting the agreement’s fragile nature. This agreement serves as the beginning of a long and unpredictable journey aimed at ultimately concluding the ongoing war and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack that instigated the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed earlier that Hamas had not adhered to its obligation of providing the names of the three hostages it was supposed to exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners. According to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the leading Israeli military spokesperson, the names had not been submitted by the time the ceasefire was supposed to take effect at 8:30 a.m. local time. He stated that military operations would continue until Hamas complied with the agreement.
The Israeli military announced that it had attacked numerous militant targets in northern and central Gaza. In one incident, an Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals in Khan Younis shortly after the ceasefire was delayed. Nasser Hospital confirmed this casualty count from the strike that occurred around two hours past the ceasefire’s expected onset time. Moreover, the Gaza Health Ministry reported an additional three fatalities due to strikes in Gaza City on the same day.
Hamas attributed the delay in providing the names to “technical field reasons” and reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire deal that had been announced previously. An Israeli official noted that mediators have assured that the list will eventually be turned over, and the agreement is still anticipated to continue, even though the timing remains uncertain. This comment was given confidentially due to the ongoing issues being navigated.
In politics, the party led by Israel’s hard-line National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, indicated that its representatives submitted resignations from the government as a protest against the ceasefire agreement. While the departure of the Jewish Power party weakens Netanyahu’s coalition, it is not expected to disrupt the ceasefire.
In an unrelated development, Israel reported the recovery of the body of soldier Oron Shaul, killed during the 2014 Israel-Hamas conflict, in a specialized operation. The remains of Shaul and another soldier, Hadar Goldin, had not been returned despite their families’ ongoing public advocacy since the 2014 war.
The anticipated ceasefire is the product of extensive mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt and marks the first step in a delicate process aimed at bringing an end to the 15-month-long war. Netanyahu has previously stated that the ceasefire should not commence until Israel receives the list of hostages to be freed, which Hamas had promised to provide.
The preliminary phase of the ceasefire is set for 42 days and should facilitate the return of 33 hostages to Gaza alongside the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces are expected to withdraw into a buffer zone within Gaza, allowing many displaced residents to return home. Humanitarian aid efforts are also anticipated to intensify in the battered region.
This ceasefire stands out as the second occurrence in the prolonged conflict, which has proven more significant than a prior week-long pause. It holds the potential to lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities. Discussions concerning the substantially more complex second phase of the ceasefire are scheduled to start in slightly over two weeks, with significant uncertainties remaining regarding whether the conflict will reignite after the first six-week phase and how the remaining hostages in Gaza will be freed.
Despite the delays, many Palestinians took to the streets in Khan Younis to celebrate the ceasefire. An Associated Press journalist reported that as festivities unfolded, armed Hamas members appeared in vehicles, greeted warmly by jubilant crowds shouting slogans in favor of the group.
Gaza’s Civil Defense, which operates under the Hamas-led authority, hosted a parade in Gaza City, where rescue personnel waved Palestinian flags amidst celebrating citizens. There were also glimpses of individuals brandishing the flags of Islamic Jihad, which is Hamas’ primary rival.
As security personnel resumed visible duties in parts of Gaza, many Palestinian families began returning to their homes, despite the continuation of tank shelling near the Israeli border overnight. Residents observed these families making their way back, often with belongings transported by donkey carts. “The explosions and shelling have not ceased,” stated Ahmed Matter, a local. “People are restless; they just want this madness to come to an end.”
Israel’s Cabinet sanctioned the ceasefire during a rare session on Saturday, breaking tradition as it occurred during the Jewish Sabbath, several days after mediators had introduced the assurance. The involved parties, pressured by both the outgoing Biden administration and incoming President Donald Trump, were driven to finalize a deal ahead of Monday’s presidential inauguration.
The ongoing conflict has led to catastrophic consequences. The toll has reportedly included the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while more than 1,200 fatalities occurred from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel. Many Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives in this conflict.
An estimated 90% of the population in Gaza has been displaced, with the United Nations reporting that critical infrastructure, including the health system and roads, has endured extensive damage. The potential rebuilding process—if the ceasefire reaches its conclusive stage—could require years to undertake. Numerous unresolved questions loom over Gaza’s future, both politically and socially.
