The ceasefire in Gaza finally took effect after a delay of nearly three hours. The first stage of the truce was originally slated to begin this morning at 8:30 a.m., but was delayed, after Hamas was late in handing over the list of the three female hostages to be freed this afternoon, the Times of Israel reported. Three women hostages were, however, released by mid-afternoon, all of them appearing to be in good condition. Four other living female hostages are to be freed in seven days.
Even during the delay, Hamas members were seen parading in Rafah, and Gaza police officers, in their blue uniforms, were patrolling the streets.The IDF continued to carry out artillery and air strikes during the delay. “The IDF continues to operate and strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip,” it said in a statement.
Even as it has begun, the ceasefire is already in jeopardy. In a video statement issued last night, Netanyahu called the first stage of the hostage release deal a “temporary ceasefire,” and claimed that both U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump had underlined that Israel could return to fighting in Gaza, if the next stages of the deal are not realized, reported the Times of Israel. The implication seems to be that Israel has no intention of going to phase 2 of the deal— a step, which if taken, supporters of the deal have warned, could be a death sentence for the remaining living hostages.