A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has finally taken effect, though not before a tumultuous start marked by continued violence, according to an aljazeera.com report.
The long-awaited pause in hostilities, a significant diplomatic breakthrough, was delayed by nearly three hours, during which Israeli strikes claimed the lives of 19 Palestinians in Gaza.
The agreement, brokered through intensive Qatari mediation, marks the first substantial pause in a conflict that has reportedly claimed nearly 47,000 Palestinian lives and left over 110,000 wounded since October 7, 2023.
Israeli authorities have confirmed receiving the names of three captives scheduled for release on the first day, including British-Israeli national Emily Damari, whose expected freedom has been welcomed by the UK Foreign Office.
Thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun the poignant journey back to their devastated neighbourhoods, carrying what few possessions they managed to save. The scene underscores both the hope and heartbreak of a conflict that has transformed much of Gaza into rubble.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, addressed concerns about the deal’s stability after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s suggestions of possibly resuming warfare. “Our focus from day one was always on getting the deal through,” al-Ansari stated, emphasising the need to look beyond political rhetoric.
The agreement’s first phase includes the release of three Israeli captives in exchange for approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners. This represents a small but crucial step toward addressing the fate of over 200 people taken captive during Hamas’s October 7 attack, which resulted in 1,139 Israeli deaths.
As the ceasefire takes hold, international observers remain cautiously optimistic, while acknowledging the fragile nature of peace in a region where tensions continue to simmer beneath the surface of temporary calm.