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Gaza Ceasefire Takes Effect, Aid Trucks Enter Strip

A ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel has come into force in Gaza at 11:15 am (9:15 GMT), after a nearly three-hour delay, pausing the devastating fighting in the Strip that lasted for about 15 months.

The ceasefire started after Hamas released the names of three female hostages to be freed later on Sunday, reported the Associated Press (AP). Hamas earlier said that the delay was due to “technical field reasons,” underscoring its commitment to the deal. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it would continue to attack targets in Gaza until Hamas met its demands.

Ceasefire Comes into Force

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced in a statement that the ceasefire in Gaza has come into force, after being delayed for nearly three hours.

The ceasefire was supposed to begin at 8:30 am, but it was delayed because Hamas had not released the list of the first three hostages to be freed during the day. Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire deal, saying that the delay in releasing the names of the hostages was due to “technical field reasons,” without elaborating.

Striking Gaza

As a result, the Israeli military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, said in a statement that the military would continue its attacks in Gaza as long as Hamas did not meet its obligations.

Gaza Ceasefire Takes Effect, Aid Trucks Enter Strip

After ceasefire delay, Israel struck northern and central Gaza, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens more, Reuters reported citing the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service. Reuters cited residents and medical workers in Gaza saying they heard no new fighting or military strikes since the ceasefire deal took effect.

In response to the ceasefire deal, the Israeli Cabinet ministers of the hardline Jewish Power party, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, submitted their resignations, further weakening Netanyahu’s coalition.

Gazans Celebrate

Palestinians in Gaza have begun celebrations early Sunday, with some of them returning to their homes despite the ceasefire delay. In the light of this, Gaza’s Civil Defense organized a parade in Gaza City, waving a Palestinian flag, according to AP. Furthermore, the Hamas-run police started deploying in public.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas will gradually release 33 hostages including female civilians and soldiers, children and civilians over 50 during the first phase of the agreement, expected to last for six weeks.

In exchange, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for each civilian hostage and 50 for each female soldier. Israeli forces will move out of the populated areas and displaced Palestinians will begin returning to their homes.

Gaza Ceasefire Takes Effect, Aid Trucks Enter Strip

The second phase negotiations will start on the 16th day of the ceasefire, involving the release of all the remaining hostages in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a “sustainable calm.”

The third phase will involve returning the remaining dead bodies from both sides and starting Gaza’s reconstruction process under international supervision.

Aid Delivery to Gaza

According to the ceasefire agreement, 600 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza every day of the ceasefire, 50 of them carrying fuel. 300 of the trucks will head to the north of the Strip, as civilians there suffer dire humanitarian conditions.

After the ceasefire took effect, Egypt said it had resumed sending humanitarian aid trucks to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. Around 187 trucks had entered Karam Abu Salem crossing for inspections for delivery to Gaza, carrying food and medical aid, according to Al-Qahera News. Five fuel trucks had already entered the Strip.

Gaza Ceasefire Takes Effect, Aid Trucks Enter Strip

Moreover, the interim chief of the UN’s OCHA aid agency for the Palestinian territories, Jonathan Whittall, said that the first trucks of aid started entering Gaza minutes after the ceasefire came into effect. “First trucks of supplies started entering just 15mins later. A massive effort has been underway over the past days from humanitarian partners to load and prepare to distribute a surge of aid across all of Gaza,” he wrote on X.

More Aid Ready

On Sunday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said that 4,000 aid trucks are ready to enter Gaza, nearly half of them carry food and flour, reported CNN. Meanwhile, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA), Tom Fletcher, said that aid convoys are ready to enter Gaza.

“We are on crossings ready to get aid convoys moving into Gaza at scale and pace. Lifesaving food and medicine for survivors,” he wrote on X.

On Friday, the European Union (EU) announced a new aid package to Gaza, worth €120mn ($123mn), to address the “ongoing humanitarian crisis.” According to a statement released by the European Commission, the aid package will include food, healthcare, and shelter assistance and support to allow access to clean water.

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