Tel Aviv/Gaza: A ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas has gone into effect after a nearly three-hour delay.
During the delayed time Israeli attacks killed at least 19 Palestinians.
Israel has confirmed receiving the names of the three captives to be freed on the first day of the implementation of the agreement.
The deal stipulates a pause in fighting and the release of three Israeli captives and about 95 Palestinian prisoners on the first day.
Hamas said it has handed over to mediators on Sunday the names of the three Israeli female hostages to be released by the group in Gaza, according to a statement.
Hundreds of aid trucks awaiting to enter Gaza
Hundreds of aid trucks were waiting at the Gaza border, poised to enter from Egypt as soon as they get the all-clear to deliver desperately needed aid to the Palestinian territory.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said 600 trucks a day would enter Gaza after the ceasefire takes effect, including 50 carrying fuel.
The ceasefire agreement followed months of on-off negotiations brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
During the first phase the Israeli army will pull back from some of its positions in Gaza and Palestinians displaced from areas in northern Gaza will be allowed to return.
Its first stage will last six weeks, during which 33 of the remaining 98 hostages — women, children, men over 50, the ill and wounded — will be released in return for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
They include 737 male, female and teen-aged prisoners, some of whom are members of resistance groups convicted of attacks on Israeli settlers.
Three female hostages are expected to be released on Sunday afternoon through the Red Cross, in return for 30 prisoners each.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 46,899 Palestinians and wounded 110,725 since October 7, 2023. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day and more than 200 were taken captive.
