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Return of Gaza Residents to Their Homes Following Ceasefire Agreement
Residents of the Gaza Strip returned to their homes after the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect, with scenes showing gatherings of Palestinians rushing to their homes that had been completely or partially destroyed due to the Israeli bombardment that lasted for 15 months.
After being postponed in the morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the ceasefire would take effect at 11:15 AM local time. The office stated that Israel received a list of hostages scheduled for release today, and Israeli security agencies are currently verifying the details related to the operation.
The Prime Minister's office noted that notifications to the families of the hostages have already begun, with the release of three female prisoners held by Hamas set to occur after 14:00 GMT today.
The statement mentioned that there are four other female hostages who are alive and will be released within the next seven days. Although the details regarding the mechanism for the handover of the prisoners remain unclear, Israeli media reported that Israel would receive the three prisoners via the Netzarim crossing, with a special forces unit accompanying the hostage recovery operation.
Informed sources also indicated that the prisoners are being transported to Ofer prison by buses in preparation for their release. For its part, Hamas announced that it is set to receive 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the three female prisoners, in accordance with the agreement.
Earlier, a correspondent for Al Arabiya/Al Hadath confirmed the arrival of the names of the three detainees to Israel, paving the way for the implementation of the ceasefire. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades announced the names of the detainees: Rumi Jonin (24 years old), Emily Damari (28 years old), and Doron Shternberg Kheir (31 years old), with "Al Arabiya" broadcasting their images, which were circulated by Israeli media.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army stated that it "continues to strike targets in the Gaza area at present," with spokesperson Daniel Hagari clarifying that "based on the Prime Minister's directives, the ceasefire will not take effect until Hamas fulfills its commitments."
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was supposed to take effect today, Sunday, from 06:30 GMT. However, residents of Gaza began heading towards the northern parts of the Strip, despite being prohibited from doing so by the Israeli army, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The ceasefire raises hopes for the end of the devastating 15-month war, which has left tens of thousands dead in Gaza and reshaped the situation in the Middle East. It also paves the way for the release of detainees after hours, offering a potential opportunity for an end to the conflict.
