Gaza ceasefire comes into force after 15 months of war

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The long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Sunday at 11.15 local time after the Palestinian group released the names of the three Israeli hostages to be freed on the first day of the truce.

The ceasefire in Gaza was supposed to have started about three hours earlier but was delayed after Israeli Prime Minister Mr Netanyahu said Israel had not received the list of names from Hamas.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher are the three names on the initial list of 33 hostages to be released in the first phase. Israel confirmed it has received the list and said the military is reviewing it.

The Gaza ceasefire scheduled to begin at 8.30am on Sunday fell through the cracks at the last minute over the dispute between Israel and Hamas on the list of hostages.

With less than half an hour to go until the initial deadline, a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had told Israel's military "that the ceasefire, which is supposed to take effect at 8.30am, will not begin until Israel has received the list of released hostages, which Hamas has committed to providing".

Hamas said the delay in disclosing the names of hostages to be released in first phase was due to “technical field reasons”. A spokesman for the militant group later said the delay was because of the difficulty in gathering information from various places where the Israeli army continued to operate in Gaza Strip.

"But we are committed to implementing the terms of the agreement as agreed upon and there will be no delay that will spoil this agreement and the joy of the people," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and members of his Otzma Yehudit party submitted their resignation from the government and coalition on Sunday, as they had promised to do if the truce deal was approved, Israeli media reported.

"The reckless approval of an agreement with the Hamas terror organisation, which includes releasing hundreds of murderers with the blood of men, women, and children on their hands ..." the party said.

The first three female hostages were expected to be released within half an hour of the start of the ceasefire.

The Israeli military said it had continued to carry out attacks on Gaza, insisting a ceasefire with Hamas had still not come into effect.

At least 10 people were killed and several injured on Sunday morning in Israeli shelling of several areas in the Gaza Strip, Gaza's civil defence said in a statement.

Shelling took place in Al Sha'af neighbourhood, east of Gaza city, injuring several people who were returning to their homes in Rafah, the report said. Israeli artillery shelling also hit Khan Younis and Rafah on Sunday, while firing was reported east of Al Shuja'iyya and Al Zeitoun, Wafa reported.

The Israeli military "continues to strike within the Gaza area at this time”, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said. “According to the Prime Minister's directives, the ceasefire will not come into effect until Hamas fulfils its commitments.”

He said the military was ready to implement the ceasefire but also to act in case Hamas broke the terms of the deal.

Palestinian residents had begun returning to their homes in parts of Gaza city early on Sunday, even as shelling by tanks continued to the east, closer to the Israeli border, overnight. Families could be seen making their way back on foot, with their belongings loaded on to carts, AP reported.