A ceasefire agreed upon by the Israeli government and the Hamas group came into effect in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, January 19.
This was reported by AR, Ukrinform reports.
It is noted that the ceasefire began at 11:15 (local time and Kyiv time) and is the first step towards a final end to the conflict and the return of nearly 100 hostages kidnapped during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
The first phase of the ceasefire was due to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, but was delayed by three hours because Hamas failed to deliver a list of hostages to be released this afternoon.
The release of the first hostages is scheduled to occur on Sunday at around 16:30 p.m.
According to Israeli officials, three women are to be the first to be released out of the 33 hostages to be released during the first 42-day phase of the deal.