• Israel says it has released 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal with Hamas. The news comes after the first Israeli hostages released under the long-awaited agreement arrived back in Israel.
• Displaced Palestinians started returning to their homes in Gaza, which has been decimated over the past 15 months. One Gazan told CNN the moment was “bittersweet,” as 92% of homes in the enclave have been destroyed or damaged, according to the UN. Meanwhile, hundreds of aid trucks with desperately needed supplies entered Gaza.
• The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began, an Israeli military official told CNN.
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Our live coverage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire has moved here.
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WHO welcomes ceasefire in Gaza but warns of immense health challenges ahead
From CNN’s Lucas Lilieholm and Alex Stambaugh
People walk past Abu Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital, damaged during Israeli attacks, in Rafah on Sunday.
Hani Alshaer/Anadolu/Getty Images
The United Nations health agency welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release deal, but warned that Gaza’s “health challenges ahead are immense” as residents of the war-torn enclave face rising disease and malnutrition.
Israel’s 15-month military campaign in Gaza has pulverized neighborhoods, depleted food, water and fuel supplies, and decimated health care infrastructure, and aid groups are now scrambling to step up their response to the humanitarian catastrophe.
WHO warned that the number of Palestinians killed and wounded was likely much higher than the official count from the Ministry of Health, and said an estimated 30,000 people had sustained injuries that needed ongoing rehabilitation largely unavailable in Gaza.
“Transmission of infectious diseases has massively increased, malnutrition is rising, and the risk of famine persists. The breakdown of public order, exacerbated by armed gangs, raises further concerns,” the WHO said.
In response to the challenges outlined in the statement, WHO said it would work with its partners to implement a 60-day plan to restore and expand the health system in the strip.
“WHO calls on all parties to uphold their commitment to fully implement the ceasefire agreement and to continue working towards a political solution to address the protracted crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, which is essential for lasting peace.”
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“We are out of hell”: Freed Palestinians say they were treated “like animals” in Israeli prison
From CNN’s Kathleen Magramo
Palestinian freed prisoners wave to the crowd from a Red Cross as they arrive in Beitunia, on the outskirts of Ramallah, in the early hours of Monday.
John Wessels/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian prisoners freed as part of the ceasefire-hostage release deal said Sunday they were held in horrific conditions in an Israeli jail in the occupied West Bank.
Buses carrying 90 freed Palestinians out of Ofer Prison were met by huge crowds, cheering and waving flags, with video showing jubilant scenes and emotional reunions as they hugged their families.
“I left hell and now I’m in heaven, we are out of hell,” freed inmate Abdelaziz Atawneh Atawneh told Reuters.
Israel is expected to free almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners over the next six weeks during the first phase of the ceasefire deal. Most of those released Sunday were women and teenagers.
“Freedom, freedom, we used to see the sky through small squares. I used to say I hope I will see the sky without these squares,” 18-year-old freed prisoner Rose Khwais told Reuters.
Khwais said Israeli prison guards treated Palestinian inmates “like animals.”
“They didn’t treat us well, there was no good food, no medical treatment. I had symptoms of a stroke, liquid around the heart, and also blood pressure (problems). I wasn’t afraid of the illnesses, I was worried that my family will know that I got sick.”
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Blinken thanks Qatari prime minister for helping mediate ceasefire talks
From CNN's Betul Tuncer
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked the Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for his role in helping mediate a ceasefire deal with Israel and Hamas during a call on Sunday.
The call came the same day as the first phase of the deal began with the release of three Israeli hostages - the first of the 33 to be released by Hamas and its allies over the next few weeks. In return, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released, the first of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners to be freed under the long-awaited agreement.
Blinken spoke with the prime minister about the need for post-conflict planning in Gaza and said he hopes they can work to “build lasting peace in the region,” the State Department said.
In a separate call, Blinken spoke with Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The two discussed steps toward regional security and Blinken thanked Safadi for Jordan’s role in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Jordan Corridor.
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"No time to lose," says UN relief chief as hundreds of aid trucks enter Gaza
From CNN’s Jeremy Diamond and Mohammed Tawfeeq
A drone photo shows humanitarian aid trucks entering from Egypt into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing Sunday.
Jehad Alshrafi/AP
Hundreds of trucks carrying aid entered Gaza on the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to the United Nations’ Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.
“At least 630 trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Sunday, with at least 300 of them going to the north. There is no time to lose,” Tom Fletcher said in a statement Sunday.
The ceasefire agreement allows for a dramatic uptick in humanitarian relief to enter Gaza. However, the UN has warned the increased aid allotment would be “only a start” in addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where Israeli strikes have laid waste to large swathes of territory and human rights groups have described “unspeakable” living conditions.
Fletcher called on countries “with influence over the parties to ensure that this lifesaving aid reaches those who need it most.”
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92% of homes destroyed or damaged in Gaza, UN agency says
From CNN’s Raja Razek
The respite from violence in Gaza means that many Palestinians displaced during Israel’s war are returning home — but one Gazan told CNN the moment was “bittersweet” as so many houses have been reduced to rubble.
Some 436,000 housing units — 92% of Gaza’s homes — have been affected, with 160,000 destroyed and 276,000 severely or partially damaged, OCHA said.
Additionally, more than 1.8 million people are in urgent need of emergency shelter and essential household items.
The UN said on its website that approximately 90% of the population across Gaza have been displaced, many of whom have been forced to move repeatedly, “some 10 times or more.”
From CNN’s Nada Bashir, Kareem Khadder and Mohammed Tawfeeq
People gather around a bus carrying freed Palestinian prisoners after their release outside of Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank early Monday.
Ammar Awad/Reuters
Buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners out of Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank were met by huge crowds cheering and waving flags, according to a CNN team on the ground.
Moments earlier, Israeli forces had blocked access to roads leading to the prison and used tear gas and sound grenades in an attempt to disperse the crowds, the CNN team reported.
The CNN team also reported a heavy presence of Palestinian emergency teams.
Earlier, the Israel Prison Service said 90 Palestinian prisoners had been freed as part of the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas.
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Israel says 90 Palestinian prisoners freed as part of Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal agreement
From CNN’s Lauren Izso and Mohammed Tawfeeq
A Red Cross bus carrying freed Palestinian prisoners leaves the Ofer military prison, located between Ramallah and Beitunia in the occupied West Bank, early Monday local time.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
The Israel Prison Service says 90 Palestinian prisoners have been freed as part of the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas.
More to come…
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Trump says Israel-Hamas ceasefire "could only have happened as a result of our historic victory"
By Jack Forrest
US President-elect Donald Trump said at a rally in Washington, DC, on Sunday that the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas “could only have happened as a result of our historic victory.”
“This week we achieved an epic ceasefire agreement as a first step toward lasting peace in the Middle East. And this agreement could only have happened as a result of our historic victory in November,” Trump said, adding, “I’m glad to report that the first hostages have just been released.”
“Our incoming administration has achieved all of this in the Middle East in less than three months. Without being president, we’ve achieved more … than they’ve achieved in four years with being president,” Trump said, celebrating the work done by Steve Witkoff, the president-elect’s incoming envoy to the Middle East.
The cooperation between Trump’s and President Joe Biden’s teams in negotiating the deal was “almost unprecedented,” a senior Biden administration official said after the deal was clinched, made possible by a rare intersection of interests between bitter rivals who both saw an opening following Trump’s victory.
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Tensions rise as Israel prepares to release 90 Palestinian prisoners
From CNN’s Nada Bashir and Kareem Khadder
Israeli security forces have dropped more tear gas on crowds and members of the press awaiting the release of prisoners from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank, according to a CNN team on the ground.
The team also reported the use of sound grenades near the prison, which is expected to release the prisoners soon as part of the ceasefire deal agreed with Israel.
CNN’s Nada Bashir said Israeli security forces had “mounted the hill” overlooking the prison and that “any civilians gathered to watch quickly dispersed” leaving only press teams in the area.
Later, at least four Israeli security forces personnel were seen on foot, targeting press teams on the hill with more tear gas and sound grenades, Bashir said.
The CNN team had to leave the area.
CNN has reached out to the Israel Police for comment.
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Drones drop tear gas on crowds near West Bank prison where Palestinians are set to be released
From CNN’s Nada Bashir, Kareem Khadder and Raja Razek
Israeli drones dropped tear gas canisters on crowds near the Israeli-operated Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank, where people are gathering ahead of the expected release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal.
“We saw at least two canisters being dropped targeting the crowds and press that had gathered on top of a hill overlooking Ofer Prison,” said CNN’s Nada Bashir, who is part of a team stationed near the prison in the city of Beitunia to cover the release.
A spokesperson for the Israeli police claimed to CNN that people “displaying Hamas flags” had gathered near the prison “and proceeded to throw stones at security forces. In response, the forces utilized crowd control measures to restore order and disperse the gathering.”
CNN’s team did not witness any Hamas flags being raised near the prison.
At least seven people were injured in the incident, the Palestine Red Crescent said in a statement on Sunday.
The 90 prisoners are to be released from the Ofer and Shikma facilities, according to the Israel Prison Service. Shikma prison is in Ashkelon, Israel.
Israel holds at least 10,000 Palestinian prisoners, according to the Commission of Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society, though that number does not include the unknown number of Palestinians Israel has taken captive in Gaza.
The prisoners held by Israel include 3,376 people, including 95 children and 22 women, held under administrative detention, meaning they have not faced public charges or been put on trial.
CNN’s Lauren Izso and Abeer Salman contributed to this report
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Analysis: West Bank violence not addressed in Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal
From CNN's Lauren Kent
People inspect the bullet-riddled car in which four members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades — a network of Palestinian armed groups — were killed by Israeli special forces in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on October 9, 2024.
Zain Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images
The three-phase deal between Israel and Hamas will require further negotiations following the first stage, meaning the ceasefire is not guaranteed to last beyond the first six weeks.
The deal also doesn’t address certain elements of the conflict in the Middle East, including the violence in the occupied West Bank, where 3.3 million Palestinians are living under Israeli military occupation.
The October 7 attacks by Hamas and the subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza sparked a surge in violence in the occupied territory that lies between Israel and Jordan.
Smoke rises among buildings during an Israeli army raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, on August 30, 2024.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images
Israel has launched a series of military raids and airstrikes in towns and villages in the occupied West Bank. Last August, Israel launched a large “counter-terror operation” in the areas of Jenin and Tulkarem, which it said was its most expansive in years.
Meanwhile, attacks on Palestinian communities by Israeli settlers, emboldened by their country’s offensive in Gaza and support from Israel’s right-wing government, have increased.
There have also been deadly attacks against settlers.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank, where more than 500,000 Jewish settlers currently live, are considered illegal under international law.
On Friday, the Israeli defense minister’s spokesperson said the country will release Jewish settlers held under administrative detention in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in response to the government potentially releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza agreement.
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Released hostages are in stable condition, say hospital staff
From CNN’s Florence Davey-Attlee and Mitchell McCluskey
All three released Israeli hostages are in stable condition, staff at Sheba Medical Center said Sunday.
Pessach said medical professionals would continue to examine them for the next few days.
“We feel privileged to be the ones who get this tremendous honor to treat those hostages and we will continue to stay here and be prepared until the last hostage returns to Israel,” Pessach said.
Sefi Mendelovich, the deputy director-general of Israel’s Ministry of Health, praised the “meticulous planning” that went into preparing for receiving the hostages.
Mendelovich added that medical staff are monitoring for any health issues that could arise after the hostages’ 471 days in captivity.
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CNN drone footage shows scale of destruction in northern Gaza
From CNN’s Abeer Salman, Raja Razek and Mohammed Tawfeeq
A still from CNN drone footage over northern Gaza on Sunday.
CNN
The first CNN drone footage taken of Gaza sinceNovember 5, 2023, shows the massive scale of destruction caused by 15 months of war.
The footage, filmed Sunday on the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, shows the flattened remains of hundreds of buildings in three areas of northern Gaza: Beit Hanoun, Jabalya and Beit Lahia.
The footage shows Palestinians – most on foot but some on bicycles and donkey-drawn carts – journeying through what remains of the streets, with destroyed buildings on all sides and smoke rising in the distance.
As the drone rises, the viewer gets a bird’s eye view of the extent of the destruction, which stretches out far into the distance.
In a report last week, the United Nations estimated Israeli airstrikes and military operations in Gaza had “damaged or destroyed around 60 per cent of buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals” and displaced about 90% of the population.
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The ceasefire has taken force and 3 hostages are back in Israel. Here’s what to know
From CNN staff
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is underway in Gaza, bringing a reprieve for Palestinians in the enclave and allowing the first of 33 Israeli hostages to be freed.
Here are the latest developments:
• Ceasefire begins: The ceasefire in Gaza has been in effect since Sunday morning. It was delayed by nearly three hours after Israel said Hamas had failed to provide the names of the first three hostages set to be freed. Hamas blamed a “technical” hold up. At least 19 Palestinians were killed on Sunday before the truce began, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense.
• Hostages released: Hamas eventually said that Romi Gonen, 24; Doron Steinbrecher, 31; and dual UK-Israeli citizen Emily Damari, 28, were to be released. They were handed to staff with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza and swiftly transferred to Re’im in southern Israel.
• Hospital treatment: The three women – captive for 471 days – were said by Red Cross staff to be in good health, but are being treated at the Sheba Medical Center in the outskirts of Tel Aviv. Staff from the hospital and Israel’s health ministry will provide an update shortly.
• Palestinian prisoners: In exchange for the three freed hostages, Israel is set to release 90 Palestinian prisoners. Large crowds have gathered outside Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank, awaiting their release.
• Gazans return home: The truce – just the second in 15 months of fighting – has allowed many Palestinians displaced in Gaza to return home. CNN drone footage has shown people in Gaza walking along streets lined with rubble of destroyed buildings. Aerial shots show near-total desolation in the north of the strip.
• Humanitarian aid enters: As the ceasefire came into effect, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said it had 4,000 trucks of aid ready to enter Gaza. Trucks from the World Food Programme, another UN body, entered the enclave shortly after the truce began.
• What next?: The first phase of the deal will see the staggered release of 30 more Israeli hostages from Gaza. In return, Israel is expected to free almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. With the second and third phases of the truce uncertain, there are no guarantees that Israel will not resume its bombardment of Gaza.
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In photos: Day one of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire
From CNNs Photo Desk
Former hostage Emily Damari reunites with her mother after being released on Sunday.
Israel Defense Forces
On Sunday, the highly anticipated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect – just the second halt in fighting since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Three hostages – held captive for 471 days – returned to Israel. Over the next six weeks, 30 more hostages are set to be freed, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel.
Since the truce went into effect, Palestinians have been seen celebrating throughout Gaza – much of which lies in total devastation after 15 months of near-constant Israeli bombings.
Palestinians and Hamas militants gather around Red Cross vehicles before the hostage handoff in Gaza City on Sunday.
Mahmoud Al-Basos/Reuters
People react to watching a live television broadcast in Tel Aviv, Israel, showing the release of Israeli hostages on Sunday.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images
A man throws a child into the air as displaced Palestinians celebrate at a tent camp in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza, on Sunday.
Ramadan Abed/Reuters
Displaced Palestinians leave areas near Gaza City where they had taken refuge, on Sunday.
Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images
Trucks carrying aid wait to enter Gaza near the Rafah border crossing on Sunday.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters
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As first hostages are released, Hamas shows it is far from being destroyed
Analysis by CNN's Mostafa Salem
Israel’s longest war has so far failed to destroy its main enemy, Hamas, which, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself – and a failure for Israel.
Soon after a ceasefire came into effect on Sunday, masked gunmen emerged in vehicles, roaming the devastated streets of Gaza in celebration. Members of an elite unit wore their full uniforms at Al Saraya Square in Gaza City during the hostage transfer. It was Hamas’ reminder that its armed wing was still here 15 months after Israel set out to destroy them.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
After more than a year of fighting, Hamas and Israel in recent days reached a phased agreement that will see the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in addition to a 42-day ceasefire and the entry of aid. The deal also opens the door for further negotiations that could lead to a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
Father of Israeli-American hostage still in Gaza says "every minute is crucial"
From CNN's Sarah Davis
Sagui Dekel-Chen
Hostages and Missing Families Forum
The father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, an Israeli-American being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, said on Sunday that “every minute is crucial” in the deal between Israel and Hamas.
Dekel-Chen’s name was included on the list of 33 hostages that Hamas is expected to release in the first phase of this deal. His father, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, told CBS that he has not received an update about his son in more than a year, when Hamas released a first wave of hostages.
“They were able to tell us about a lot of men who remained behind,” Jonathan Dekel-Chen said. “Many of those were subsequently executed by Hamas, and so every minute is crucial.”
Dekel-Chen, 36, is the father of three children, including a daughter who was born while he was held hostage.
“She only knows her dad as a poster on the wall and not the man himself,” Jonathan Dekel-Chen said.
Dekel-Chen’s father expressed his gratitude to US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump for their contributions to securing this deal.
“The Biden team absolutely did extraordinary work in getting the superstructure of this deal together,” he said. “However, it took a tweet and subsequent statements from President-elect Trump to get this home. And what we ask from President Trump and his team is keep their finger on this because it is the Middle East, it’s a volatile place. Things change in a moment.”
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Remaining hostages should be freed through "force, not surrender," says Israeli minister who quit over ceasefire deal
From CNN’s Christian Edwards and Lauren Iszo
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on Thursday.
Oren Ben Hakoon/Reuters
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister who resigned over the ceasefire deal shortly before it came into effect, said the remaining hostages in Gaza should be freed “through the use of force.”
Ben Gvir welcomed the release of Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher, but likened the deal that secured their freedom to a “surrender.”
Ben Gvir resigned from the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier Sunday, along with two other ministers from the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party. The move is expected to seriously weaken Netanyahu’s coalition, but not necessarily to the point of collapse.
A spokesperson for Ben Gvir told CNN that his position as national security minister lasts for 48 hours after submitting his resignation.
Separately, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right minister of finance, said he was “filled with joy” at the return of the three hostages, despite also opposing the deal that brought them home. Like Ben Gvir, Smotrich has for months argued against any cessation of hostilities with Hamas in Gaza.
Smotrich has not resigned over the deal but has threatened to do so if Israel does not resume fighting after the first phase of the truce ends.
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Released hostages to be evaluated at Sheba Medical Center
From CNN’s Lauren Izso
The three released hostages are at the Sheba Medical Center in the city of Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, the Israeli Health Ministry and the medical center said on Sunday night.
After an initial evaluation, representatives from the Ministry of Health and the hospital will address the media.
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Family of freed hostage thanks "the people of Israel" and Donald Trump
From CNN’s Lauren Izso
The family of Doron Steinbrecher, one of the three hostages transferred back to Israel on Sunday, has thanked the people of Israel and US President-elect Donald Trump.
“A special thank you to the people of Israel for their warm embrace, unwavering support, and the strength they gave us during our darkest moments,” the family added. “We also extend our gratitude to President Trump for his significant involvement and support, which meant so much to us.”
The family said that Steinbrecher, 31, would now begin her “rehabilitation journey.”
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Freed hostages arrive at medical center in Tel Aviv
From CNN's Christian Edwards
The helicopter transporting three released hostages lands at Sheba Medical Center on Sunday.
Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
A helicopter carrying the three released hostages has arrived at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv.
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were said to be in good health after being released earlier, but they will receive further treatment at the hospital.
“The three released hostages, together with their mothers, just landed at a hospital, where they will be reunited with the rest of their families and receive medical treatment,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.
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Released hostage Emily Damari smiles in new image
From CNN’s Tamar Michaelis, Lauren Izso and Catherine Nicholls
Emily Damari, 28, is seen in a screengrab from a video call following her release.
Israel Defense Forces
A picture of one of the three hostages released by Hamas on Sunday, Emily Damari, shows her smiling and holding up her bandaged hand to the camera.
“Emily is finally back where she belongs – safe in her mother’s arms, still smiling and stronger than ever,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote alongside the picture, posted on its X account.
Damari lost two of her fingers when she was shot while being taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.
Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli woman, was released along with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher on Sunday.
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Hamas’ armed wing says it is committed to the ceasefire if Israel is too
From CNN’s Mostafa Salem
Hamas’ armed wing has said it is committed to the ceasefire agreement and the timeline for the release of the hostages – if Israel is, too.
In a speech praising Hamas and its militants, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for the group’s armed wing, said Sunday that the hostages would be kept safe until they were delivered into Israeli custody – but this was “dependent on the enemy’s commitment” to the ceasefire deal.
The spokesman warned Israel against “infringements” to the agreement “that could endanger our commitment and ability to execute the exchange and (have a) direct effect on the safety of the enemy captives.”
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"Emily is finally home,” released hostage’s mother says
From CNN's Catherine Nicholls and Lauren Kent
The mother of Emily Damari, one of the three hostages released from Gaza on Sunday, has said “after 471 days, Emily is finally home” in a statement shared with CNN.
Emily Damari
Emily Damari/Facebook
Damari entered Israel on Sunday afternoon, where she is expected to reunite with her mother and undergo a medical assessment in Re’im, southern Israel.
“While Emily’s nightmare in Gaza is over, for too many other families the impossible wait continues. Every last hostage must be released, and humanitarian aid must be provided to the hostages who are still waiting to come home,” Damari’s mother said.
Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli woman, was released along with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher on Sunday.
The release of the three hostages is “wonderful and long-overdue news,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement, wishing the women “all the very best as they begin the road to recovery after the intolerable trauma they have experienced.”
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“We can breathe a little more again.” Israelis rejoice at release of hostages
From CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim and Mike Schwartz in Tel Aviv
People react to news of the released hostages, as they gather in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday.
Oded Balilty/AP
Israelis were elated following the release of three hostages from Gaza on Sunday, saying it almost feels unreal after so many months of waiting.
“It’s a very emotional moment,” Tania Coen-Uzzielli, director of Tel Aviv Museum of Art, told CNN from Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. “We were waiting for this moment since the last release which was more than one year ago.”
Coen-Uzzielli said she could feel “the pulse” of the plaza every day, as it is located right next to her museum. Hostages Square saw many Israelis gather in solidarity with the hostages held in Gaza every day.
“Everybody is crying,” she said.
Mai, another woman, who declined to give a second name, said, “We can breathe a little more again” after months of waiting. “And we are going to be here until the very last one comes back.”
However, Mai cautioned, “We don’t know what it means about what they went through and how they are physically and mentally,” adding that “they are three incredibly strong women.”
Coen-Uzzielli, the museum director, hopes this can be “the start of a new period,” which may one day end the war with Hamas.
“I really hope that an international force will influence the ultimate decision to continue the release of the hostages and to stop this tragic war,” she said.
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Biden "pleased" that his team and Trump's spoke with "one voice in the final days"
From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg
President Joe Biden delivers remarks in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Sunday.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
US President Joe Biden told reporters Sunday that he was “pleased” that both his team and President-elect Trump’s team spoke with “one voice in the final days” of his presidency, to help finalize the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.
“Now it falls on the next administration to help implement this deal,” Biden said.
Sunday marks the final full day of the Biden administration. Trump is set to be inaugurated on Monday.
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Biden says "guns in Gaza have gone silent" as Hamas hands over 3 hostages
From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg
US President Joe Biden speaks to the media about today's hostage release in North Charleston, South Carolina on Sunday.
Stephanie Scarbrough/AP
US President Joe Biden said Sunday that the “guns in Gaza have gone silent” as Hamas handed over three hostages, the first of 33 to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire that took effect Sunday.
“The deal that I first put forward last May for the Middle East has finally come to fruition. The ceasefire has gone into effect in Gaza, and today, we’re seeing hostages being released, three Israeli women held against (their) will in the dark tunnels for 470 days,” Biden said.
“After so much pain, destruction, loss of life, today, the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” he added.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much needed supplies have crossed into the enclave.
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The 3 Israeli hostages are now back in Israel
From CNN's Tamar Michaelis in Tel Aviv
The three Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Sunday are now back in Israel, according to a statement from the Israeli military.
Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari are being reunited with their mothers, who traveled to Re’im in southern Israel, to meet them.
“The released hostages are currently on their way to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment,” the military said.
They will then be transferred to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv.
Earlier, the Red Cross transferred the hostages to the Israeli military in Gaza, the military said in a statement.
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Hostages in good health, Red Cross tells Israel
From CNN's Tamar Michaelis in Tel Aviv
People gather around Red Cross vehicles in Gaza City on Sunday.
Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images
The Red Cross has told the Israeli government that the three hostages transferred on Sunday by Hamas are in good condition, an Israeli official tells CNN.
“The condition of the three hostages is good, following an initial medical examination,” the official said.
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Celebrations erupt in Tel Aviv as hostages confirmed to be with Red Cross
From CNN's Nadeen Ebrahim at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv
Israelis celebrate at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday.
Mike Schwartz/CNN
Israelis cheered and hugged as news of the three hostages being handed over to the Red Cross broke.
“Romi is coming back! Emily is coming back! Doron is coming back!” Israelis chanted in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.
Confirmation of the handover for the crowd came in on a large television screen in the square, which was broadcasting Al Jazeera with Israeli commentary playing in the background.
People gather to watch broadcasts related to the expected release of three female hostages on Sunday.
Shir Torem/Reuters
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Israeli military confirms handover of 3 hostages
From CNN's Tamar Michaelis in Tel Aviv
Hamas militants hand over hostages to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City on Sunday.
Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters
The Israeli military has confirmed that Hamas has handed over three hostages to the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza.
Hostages are on their way towards Israeli forces in Gaza, the military said.
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Hamas hands 3 hostages to Red Cross in Gaza
From journalist Khader Al-Za’anoun in Gaza City
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher.
Hostages and Missing Families Form/Facebook
Hamas has handed three hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza City, marking the first hostage releases since a 42-day ceasefire went into effect Sunday morning.
Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari have been held in Gaza since they were taken from Israel on October 7, 2023.
A large crowd gathered at Gaza City’s Al-Saraya Junction for the handover. Dozens of masked militants from Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades were present.
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Red Cross vehicles arrive at West Bank prison ahead of releases
From CNN's Mick Krever
A Red Cross vehicle is seen outside Ofer Prison in occupied West Bank on Sunday.
Sinan Abu Mayzer/Reuters
Vehicles from the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) have arrived at Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank ahead of anticipated releases of Palestinian prisoners.
An SUV and at least two large busses with ICRC logos were seen at the gates of the prison.
Earlier Sunday, Israeli prison vehicles could be seen arriving at the prison, presumably to bring Palestinians due for release but held at other facilities.
Israel will release 90 prisoners and detainees on Sunday, according to a list released by the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
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Israel to release 90 prisoners on Sunday, Palestinian Prisoners Society says
From CNN's Kareem Khadder and Nada Bashir in Beitunia, West Bank, near Ofer Prison
Israel will release 90 prisoners and detainees on Sunday, according to a list released by the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
Among them are 69 women and nine minors, the youngest of whom is 15.
The Israeli Justice Ministry had previously said that 95 people would be released. Several people listed had subsequently been identified as having already having been freed.
Some context: Israel holds at least 10,000 Palestinian prisoners, according to the Commission of Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society – though that number does not include an unknown number of Palestinians taken captive in Gaza.
The figure of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel includes 3,376 people held under administrative detention, meaning they have neither had public charges against them nor faced trial, including 95 children and 22 women.
CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Mick Krever and Lauren Kent contributed reporting.
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Civilians in Gaza travel back to their homes, many finding rubble instead
From Tareq Al Hilou in Rafah, Mahmoud Atef in northern Gaza and Abeer Salman in Jerusalem
Displaced Palestinians leave areas near Gaza City, where they had taken refuge, on Sunday.
Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images
As the ceasefire took effect Sunday morning in Gaza, Palestinians returning to their devastated neighborhoods expressed joy at long-sought peace and sadness for all that has been lost.
The truce will potentially give civilians in Gaza the first night of respite without strikes or military operations in over a year.
In the largely razed southern city of Rafah, crowds trekked back to search for whatever still stands from their neighborhoods. Mahmoud Abu Hilal expressed shock at what was once his home.
Mohammad Al Qadi, a displaced Rafah resident, was equally distraught.
“We are defeated. We have no lives; we will live in the streets. I came hoping to see my house still standing, but I found it destroyed,” Al Qadi said from Rafah.
In northern Gaza, people carried belongings on donkey carts and bicycles as they looked for their homes. Some celebrated the ceasefire, giving out sweets. Others found the momentbittersweet.
People in thenorth expressed joy after the ceasefire came in to force but are anxiousabout how their families will cope with the days ahead.
“My house was destroyed six months ago… we might live in a tent, but I may stay in a caravan for the sake of the children,” Talal Abu Al-Sayed, from Jabalya, said.
Khader Al-Za’anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed reporting.
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Israeli military helicopters land near Gaza border ahead of hostages release
From CNN’s Zeena Saifi in Re’im, Israel
Two Israeli military helicopters landed in Re’im ahead of planned hostage release
Two Israeli military helicopters landed in Re’im, southern Israel, near the Gaza border, ahead of the anticipated release of three hostages by Hamas.
Once out of Gaza, the three women are expected to be transported to an Israeli hospital by helicopter.
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Family of British-Israeli hostage due to be released face "agonizing" wait
From CNN’s Catherine Nicholls, Lauren Kent and Christian Edwards
The hours spent waiting for British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari to be released from Gaza have been “agonizing” for her family, a representative said in a statement shared with CNN on Sunday.
Damari is one of three Israeli hostages expected to be released from Gaza on Sunday, after the start of a long-awaited ceasefire.
“Obviously this is amazing news for Mandy and Emily’s entire family, but she will only believe it when she actually gets to see Emily alive and give her that hug she’s been dreaming of. Being so close to that moment makes the pain even more intense.”
Damari was kidnapped from her home in Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023. Hamas gunmen stormed her house, shot her dog dead and shot Damari in the hand. She was then blindfolded and kidnapped to Gaza in the back of her own car.
In a statement shared with CNN, Damari’s mother Mandy said the past 15 months have been nightmarish. “What she’s been feeling there – who knows. It must have been 10 times worse for her than it has for me,” she said.
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"I just want to go back," displaced Gazan in Egypt tells CNN
From CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman
Displaced Palestinian Hassan Matar on June 1, 2024.
CNN
A displaced Palestinian living in Egypt spoke to CNN about his hopes to return home after Sunday’s ceasefire-hostage release deal came into effect.
Hassan Matar, 73, is originally from Gaza but has been stranded in Cairo since September 2023 before the war in Gaza – sparked by the attacks by Hamas on 7 October – started.
“I’ve been awake since yesterday and haven’t slept. I just want to go back once we’re allowed to return to Gaza,” he said, adding the first thing he would like to do after returning home is seeing his “family and loved ones.”
Hassan said he has been following the news and staying in touch with his family still in Gaza whilst living in Egypt. “These were days harder than hard,” he said.
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Biden to address ceasefire and hostage deal
From CNN's Betsy Klein
US President Joe Biden will address the start of the ceasefire and hostage deal when he arrives in Charleston, South Carolina, on Sunday, according to an updated schedule released by the White House.
Biden, who is currently traveling aboard Air Force One to South Carolina, will deliver remarks at 10:30 a.m. upon his arrival, the White House said.
The remarks come as the Israeli military has withdrawn from multiple locations in both southern and northern Gaza, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Biden’s team worked on the deal for many months, keeping the incoming Trump administration team closely apprised on the final contours of negotiations.
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Israeli military begins partial withdrawal in Gaza
From CNN's Jeremy Diamond in Kerem Shalom, Israel
The Israeli military has withdrawn from several locations in both southern and northern Gaza, an Israeli military official told CNN on Sunday.
A CNN stringer just outside Rafah in Gaza reported this morning that the Israel Defense Forces had begun withdrawing from parts of that city.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, during the first 42-day phase, Israel is due to withdraw from population centers but will retain a presence along Gaza’s borders and on a road dividing the territory.
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Red Cross vehicles traverse Gaza ahead of anticipated hostage releases
From Mohamad Al Sawalhi in Khan Younis, Gaza, and Abeer Salman in Jerusalem
CNN footage from central Gaza shows an International Committee of the Red Cross convoy in Gaza on Sunday.
CNN
Vehicles from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have driven up Gaza’s central corridor, Salah Al-Din Street, ahead of the planned release of three hostages, CNN has seen.
The vehicles were seen driving north along Salah Al-Din Street, near the central city of Khan Younis.
Three Israeli hostages – Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari – are due to be released on Sunday.
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Trump "very influential" in ceasefire-hostage negotiations, Israeli foreign minister says
From CNN's Nadeen Ebrahim and Catherine Nicholls
US President-elect Donald Trump’s involvement in the ceasefire-hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas was “very influential,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told CNN on Sunday.
In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Bianna Golodryga, Sa’ar said that “the strong involvement of America, the strong involvement of President Trump, was very, very influential and helpful during the last weeks.”
He said that Trump did not force Israel do to anything that it didn’t want to do, but that “we worked together to achieve a goal that was very important for us, and President Trump was very helpful in achieving that goal.”
Sa’ar acknowledged that Israel hadn’t achieved its goal of defeating Hamas, saying the group was “still in power in Gaza.”
He stressed that the ceasefire agreed to is a temporary one, saying “we will start to negotiate on the second phase after a little bit more than two weeks during the first phase,” but added that “it is not automatic to move from one phase to the other phase.”
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Three female hostages to be released Sunday as Gaza ceasefire takes force: What we know
From CNN staff
A long-anticipated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Sunday after an almost three-hour delay, offering an end to months of conflict and starting the return of dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Three female Israeli hostages are due to be released later Sunday and reunited with their families after 15 months in captivity.
Here are the latest developments:
Ceasefire begins after delay: The ceasefire in Gaza is now in effect. It was delayed by almost three hours after Israel said it could not begin the truce until Hamas delivered the names of the first three hostages set to be released. Hamas blamed a “technical” hold-up; the Israeli government confirmed the ceasefire had begun after receiving the names.
Hamas releases hostage names: Hamas says the three female hostages to be released later on Sunday are: Romi Gonen, 24; Doron Steinbrecher, 31; and dual UK-Israeli citizen Emily Damari, 28. Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the October 7 attacks while Steinbrecher, a veterinary nurse, was taken from her apartment in kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border. Damari was kidnapped from her home in Kfar Aza.
Timings unclear: The exact time the three female hostages will be released Sunday is still unclear, although the Israeli government has indicated it will be after 4 p.m. (9 a.m. ET). Israel is set to release 95 Palestinian prisoners – including 10 teenagers - in return. A total of 33 Israeli hostages in Gaza and nearly 2,000 Palestinians will be released during the first phase of the ceasefire, which lasts for six weeks.
Israel strikes Gaza during delay: During the delay in the ceasefire coming into effect, the Israeli military continued to strike northern and central Gaza. At least 13 Palestinians were killed and 30 others wounded, according to officials.
Palestinians return home: The respite in violence means that many Palestinians displaced in Gaza during Israel’s war are returning home. Even ahead of the ceasefire, video showed civilians arriving at the war-torn Jabalya refugee camp, with a steady stream of people walking along a street lined by the rubble of destroyed buildings. Some Palestinians also returned to the northern cities of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun Sunday morning. One Gazan described the moment as “bittersweet.”
Aid trucks enter: Trucks from the World Food Programme entered the enclave for the first time since the truce started, the UN body said Sunday. The vehicles entered through the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings. As the ceasefire came into effect, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said in a post on X that it had 4,000 aid trucks ready to enter Gaza. Around half of them carry food and flour, it said.
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World Food Programme aid trucks have entered Gaza
From CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman and Eve Brennan
Aid trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP) have started to cross into Gaza, the United Nations body said.
It said that the trucks entered via the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings.
A CNN stringer on the Gaza side of the border witnessed people cheering and waving as at least three aid trucks entered the enclave.
Six-hundred trucks of desperately needed aid will be able to enter Gaza each day under the ceasefire agreement — a significant increase from what has been allowed so far.
The UN has warned, however, this would be “only a start” in addressing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Over 15 months of Israeli bombardment has laid waste to the Palestinian enclave, triggering a humanitarian disaster marked by hunger, disease and a lack of medical care.
Hundreds of aid trucks were seen lining up at the Rafah border crossing Sunday morning before the truce came into effect, according to Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News.
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Israeli far-right party resigns from Netanyahu’s coalition
From CNN's Dana Karni
From left, Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and Minister of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Yitzhak Wasserlauf hold a press conference in Jerusalem on Thursday.
Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
Three far-right Israeli ministers resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on Sunday in opposition to the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu, all of whom are from Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, resigned.
Another three lawmakers from Otzma Yehudit also “submitted letters of resignation from their positions on the various committees” in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
The move from Ben Gvir’s party could weaken Netanyahu’s coalition but not collapse his government.
“From this time on, the Otzma Yehudit party is not a member of the coalition,” the party said in a statement.
The party has described the agreement negotiated with Hamas as a “surrender” and said the deal is “reckless,” which will see “the release of hundreds of murderers with the blood of men, women and children on their hands… while renouncing the IDF’s achievements in the war, the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip and the cessation of fighting in Gaza.”
Another far-right minister of Netanyahu’s coalition, Bezalel Smotrich, opposes the deal but has not yet resigned. Smotrich, who serves as minister of finance, threatened to resign if Israel does not return to war after the first phase of the truce ends.
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UK welcomes reports of Israeli-British citizen’s expected release
From CNN’s Eve Brennan
Emily Damari is seen in an undated photo.
Emily Damari/Facebook
The United Kingdom welcomed reports that Israeli-British citizen Emily Damari is set to be released from Gaza by Hamas, the UK Foreign Office said in a statement to CNN on Sunday.
“We stand ready to support her upon her release. We urge both sides to implement all phases of the deal in full and for all hostages to be returned,” it added.
Damari was kidnapped from her home in Kfar Aza, Israel, on October 7, 2023. She is the only remaining British citizen held in Gaza.
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Israel names the 33 hostages set for release
From CNN's Mick Krever
The Israeli government has named 33 hostages set for release during the first phase of a ceasefire that went into effect Sunday morning.
In a post on the Israel X account, which is run by the foreign ministry, the government posted a graphic containing the names and photos of hostages set for release. It is unclear how many of the people named are alive.
Of the 33, 31 were taken from Israel on October 7, 2023. The other two hostages due for release have been held since 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Among those due for release are the two youngest hostages held by Hamas – Kfir and Ariel Bibas who, if alive, would be two and five years old, respectively.
Also among those named are two Israeli-Americans who are presumed to be alive: Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel. A third Israeli-American presumed to be alive, Edan Alexander, is an Israeli soldier and is not on this list. Four other Israeli-Americans who have been confirmed to be dead – Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai, and Judih Weinstein Haggai – are also not on the list.
The people due for release are:
1. Liri Albag
2. Itzhik Elgarat
3. Karina Ariev
4. Ohad Ben-Ami
5. Ariel Bibas
6. Yarden Bibas
7. Kfir Bibas
8. Shiri Silberman Bibas
9. Agam Berger
10. Romi Gonen
11. Danielle Gilboa
12. Emily Damari
13. Sagui Dekel-Chen
14. Yair Horn
15. Omer Wenkert
16. Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov
17. Arbel Yehud
18. Ohad Yahalomi
19. Eliya Cohen
20. Or Levy
21. Naama Levy
22. Oded Lifshitz
23. Gadi Moshe Moses
24. Avera Mengistu (held since 2014)
25. Shlomo Mansur
26. Keith Siegel
27. Tsahi Idan
28. Ofer Calderon
29. Tal Shoham
30. Doron Steinbrecher
31. Omer Shem-Tov
32. Hisham Al Sayed (held since 2015)
33. Eli Sharabi
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Pope calls for ceasefire hostage deal to be respected
From CNN's Catherine Nicholls
Pope Francis speaks from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday.
Andrew Medichini/AP
Pope Francis has called for the ceasefire-hostage deal to be respected, saying he was praying that “the hostages will return home so that they will be able to embrace their loved ones.”
“I pray that humanitarian aid will arrive in Gaza as quickly as possible,” he added after his Sunday Angelus prayer, saying that “they have great need for this humanitarian aid.”
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Almost 47,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 7, health ministry says
From CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman, Eve Brennan and Sophie Tanno
People carry the covered body of a person pulled from the rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City on November 18, 2024.
Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images
Almost 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in since October 7, 2023, Gaza’s ministry of health said Sunday.
In total, 46,913 people have been killed since the Hamas attacks and subsequent Israeli campaign in Gaza, the ministry said, with another 110,750 injured.
It added that 14 people have been killed and 25 injured “during the past 24 hours.”
Remember: A recent study has suggested the the number of people killed in Gaza is likely to be much higher. Research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine published in The Lancet journal said there were an estimated 64,260 “traumatic injury deaths” in Gaza between October 7, 2023 and June 30, 2024. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza put the figure at 37,877 at the time.
As of October 2024, the number of Gazans killed by violence was thought to exceed 70,000, the study said, based on the estimated underreporting rate.
The total death toll attributable to Israel’s military campaign is likely to be higher still, it said, as its analysis does not account for deaths caused by disruption to health care, insufficient food, clean water and sanitation, and disease.
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"It is my house, where I feel secure, warm and happy." Gazans return home after ceasefire comes into effect
From CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman and Antoinette Radford
Displaced Palestinians leave parts of Khan Younis as they return to their homes in Rafah, Gaza on Sunday.
Jehad Alshrafi/AP
As the ceasefire in Gaza comes into effect, hundreds of Palestinians across the enclave are journeying back to what remains of the places they once called home.
Ismail Zaida, from the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, told CNN he was watching “thousands carrying some of their belongings and returning to northern Gaza.”
Memories of her home are front of mind for Nirmin Moussi, who was displaced to Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
“It is my house where I feel secure, warm and happy. Finally, my children will go back to their own room, to their warm beds, to their toys… there are no words to describe what I’m feeling now. I’m so happy, but I’m so sad. I’m happy because I’m finally going to my home, going to see my family who I miss,” she told CNN.
Qasem Mahdi thanked US President-elect Donald Trump “for the efforts and pressure exerted to stop the war.”
“I hope peace prevails in the region, that wars come to an end, and that the people of Gaza can live in safety and peace after the difficult days we have endured – days filled with killing, siege, destruction, terror, and massacres against civilians,” Mahdi told CNN.
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Israel failed to dismantle Hamas, but remains "committed" to doing so, foreign minister says
From CNN’s Eve Brennan and Nadeen Ebrahim
Israel's Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar speaks during a press conference in Rome on Tuesday.
Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images
Israel failed to dismantle Hamas’ military and government capabilities during its war in Gaza but remains committed to achieving that goal, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Sunday, soon after a ceasefire in Gaza took effect.
He said at a press conference in Jerusalem that “unfortunately, we hadn’t met the objective” of dismantling Hamas but had managed to turn it “from a terror army to a guerrilla group.”
He added, “We acknowledge the fact we hadn’t achieved yet our objectives with regard to this issue, but we are committed to do so.”
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These are the three hostages set to be released Sunday
From CNN’s Abeer Salman, Eve Brennan and Ivana Kottasová
(From left to right) Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher have been named as the three hostages set to be released by Hamas on Sunday.
Hostages and Missing Families Form/Facebook
Hamas has released the names of three female Israeli hostages set for release on Sunday. Israel has confirmed it received the list but has not publicly named them.
The hostages are: Romi Gonen (24), Doron Steinbrecher (31) and dual UK-Israeli citizen Emily Damari (28).
Gonen was 23 when she was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Her family said she was shot in the hand during the attack. According to her mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, some hostages who were held alongside Gonen and later released reported that her injuries worsened while in captivity. Israeli media has cited her family as confirming that she is on the list.
Steinbrecher, a veterinary nurse, was 30 when she was kidnapped from her apartment in kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border. A video showing her alongside two other kidnapped women was released by Hamas in January last year. Her family raised concerns about her health after seeing the footage, with Doron’s brother Dor Steinbrecher telling CNN that she needed daily medication that she was unlikely to be getting while in captivity.
Damari was kidnapped from her home in Kfar Aza when she was 27. Her mother, Mandy Damari, previously said that her daughter was “shot in the hand, injured by shrapnel in her leg, blindfolded, bundled into the back of her own car,” and driven to Gaza. She is the only remaining British citizen held in Gaza.
On October 7, 2023, 251 people were abducted from Israel by Hamas-led militants. The militants continue to hold 94 hostages. Of those, 34 are thought to be dead (although the actual number is expected to be higher). Eighty-one are male and 13 are female; two are aged five or under.
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4,000 aid trucks are ready to enter Gaza, UNRWA says
From CNN’s Sophie Tanno and Ibrahim Dahman
Trucks carrying aid wait at the Rafah crossing for their entry into Gaza on Sunday.
Ali Moustafa/Getty Images
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said it had 4,000 aid trucks ready to enter Gaza on Sunday as the ceasefire came into effect.
Around half of them carry food and flour, UNRWA said in a post on X.
Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA), wrote in a post on X Sunday that there is “no time to lose.”
“We are on crossings ready to get aid convoys moving into Gaza at scale and pace. Lifesaving food and medicine for survivors,” he said.
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday after an almost three-hour delay.
According to the agreement, humanitarian aid into Gaza will be ramped up to 600 trucks a day – a significant increase in what has been allowed until now. However, a UN humanitarian official has previously warned this would be “only a start” in addressing the strip’s humanitarian crisis.
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Displaced Gazans await “bittersweet” return home amid ceasefire deal
From CNN's Ibrahim Dahman and Sophie Tanno
Displaced Palestinians walk past the rubble as they attempt to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday.
Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters
Gazans displaced by the Israel-Hamas war say they are awaiting a “bittersweet” return home on Sunday as a ceasefire deal takes effect, bringing respite to over a year of Israeli bombardment.
For Ahmad Al-Hamadiyat - a merchant from Sheikh Radwan, a neighborhood in Gaza City, who has been displaced in Al-Zawaida, central Gaza - the thought of returning to a home left in ruins evokes conflicting emotions.
Al-Hamadiyat described feeling “joyful yet incomplete” due to the loss of loved ones, homes, memories and dreams. “Everything has turned to ashes,” he said.
Raed Ridwan, from northern Gaza’s Jabalya refugee camp but displaced in central Deir al-Balah, described his “immense relief” upon hearing of the ceasefire agreement.
“I no longer have to wonder if I might leave and not return or if I might return to find them gone because of a sudden, treacherous airstrike.”
He continued that he intends to return home despite it being reduced to rubble. “I don’t want another war. All I want is a wall to lean on after the exhaustion of these days and a cup of water to end the thirst of these months.”
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Gaza ceasefire has now started
From CNN's Dana Karni and Mick Krever
The ceasefire in Gaza is now in effect, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
The truce began at 11:15 a.m. (4:15 a.m. ET). It was delayed by almost three hours after Hamas said there was a “technical” delay in delivering the names of three hostages due to be released to Israel on Sunday.
Israeli strikes after the originally planned ceasefire start time of 8:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. ET) killed at least 13 Palestinians and wounded 30, according to hospital and civil defense officials.
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Israel has received list of hostages set for release Sunday, prime minister's office confirms
From CNN's Dana Karni
Israel has received the list of hostages set for release by Hamas on Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“The security establishment is currently reviewing the details,” the statement said, adding that the families of the hostages have been notified by the Israeli military.
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Hamas publishes names of three hostages set to be released Sunday
From CNN's Ibrahim Dahman
Hamas has released the names of three Israeli hostages set to be released on Sunday, according to a statement by Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Obaida.
In a separate statement, Hamas said it handed the names of three female Israeli hostages set for release on Sunday to mediators.
CNN has reached out to Qatar and Egypt for confirmation.
The Israeli government has not yet confirmed if it has received the names.
The Israeli military said earlier that the planned ceasefire wouldn’t go into effect until Hamas provides the names of hostages it will release on Sunday.
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At least 10 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes after Gaza ceasefire deadline passes
From CNN’s Abeer Salman and Ibrahim Dahman
Smoke rises over the destroyed residential areas following the Israeli attacks on the northern Gaza on Sunday.
Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu/Getty Image
At least 10 Palestinians were killed and 25 wounded by Israeli strikes on Gaza on Sunday morning after the expected start of the Gaza ceasefire passed, according to hospital and civil defense officials.
“The bombing is still ongoing in various areas of the Gaza Strip, specifically Gaza City and the north,” Gaza’s civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said.
The strikes killed six people in the Al-Shaaf neighborhood east of Gaza City, three north of Gaza City, as well as one in the southernmost city, Rafah, according to officials at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital and civil defense.
The bombardment came after a highly anticipated ceasefire deal was delayed with Israel insisting that it would not go forward until Hamas provides the names of hostages to be released later in the day. Hamas blamed “technical” reasons for the delay.
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Former Israeli negotiator says he believes Hamas is struggling to find hostages as it is not in control of Gaza
From CNN’s Antoinette Radford
Gershon Baskin, a veteran Israeli hostage negotiator, told CNN he believed Hamas was struggling to find the hostages to hand over for the ceasefire deal as the group is not in full control of the territory.
“I think what we’re seeing here is the difficulty of Hamas to produce the names that it intended to produce, because the Hamas leadership outside doesn’t have full control of (the) Gaza side,” he said, adding it is difficult for Hamas to move around freely while Israeli attacks continue.
Hamas’ top leadership doesn’t reside in Gaza.
“They need to verify that they can find them and that they are alive because they promised that there would be three living women hostages who are civilians, not soldiers, released today,” he said.
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The Gaza ceasefire has been delayed. Here’s where things stand
From CNN Staff
Scores of displaced Palestinians walk along a road in the Saftawi area of Jabalia, as they leave areas near Gaza City where they had taken refuge, toward the further northern part of the Gaza Strip, on Sunday.
Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images
More than an hour has passed since the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was expected to take effect, and uncertainty looms over the fate of the agreement as Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza.
Here’s where things stand:
Israel insists on names of hostages to be freed: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday morning the ceasefire “will not begin” until Hamas releases a list of hostages to be freed. Hamas said it remained committed to the agreement, and blamed “technical” reasons for the delay.
Strikes on Gaza continue: Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza have killed at least eight people and injured more than 25 others after the ceasefire start time passed on Sunday morning, according to hospital and civil defense officials in the enclave. The Israeli military said it will continue to “strike within the Gaza strip” until Hamas provides the names of hostages set for release.
Troops withdraw: Meanwhile, Israeli forces have been seen withdrawing from parts of central and eastern Rafah, according to a CNN stringer based just outside Gaza’s southernmost city.
Palestinians return to northern Gaza: As dawn broke on Sunday, some Palestinians began returning to war-torn cities in northern Gaza, including Beit Hanoun and the Jabalya refugee camp, videos obtained by CNN showed.
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Trump team told hostage families they are committed to releasing all hostages held in Gaza, participant says
From CNN’s Jim Sciutto and Lucas Lilieholm
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago, on January 9, in Palm Beach, Florida.
Evan Vucci/AP
Two senior officials in the incoming Trump administration told the families whose loved ones have been held captive in Gaza that they are committed to releasing all the remaining hostages, according to a meeting participant.
Ruby Chen, father of Itay Chen, a dual US-Israeli citizen killed on October 7 during the Hamas attacks on Israel, told CNN’s Jim Sciutto that incoming national security advisor Mike Waltz and Trump’s top official for hostage affairs Adam Boehler had both spoken to the families.
The ceasefire deal has three phases, with the first expected to last six weeks and see the release of 33 Israeli hostages. Foreign hostages, including Americans, are expected to be released in addition, a source familiar with the agreement told CNN Friday.
Hamas and its allies still hold 94 people taken from Israel on October 7, 2023, 15 months ago. Of those, at least 34 are dead, according to the Israeli government, though the true number is expected to be higher.
All but 10 of the 94 hostages are Israeli or dual citizens, while eight are from Thailand, one is from Nepal, and one is from Tanzania, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
Negotiations for the second and third phases of the ceasefire will begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the deal, according to an Israeli official, which will see the release of additional hostages and the beginning of Gaza’s reconstruction.
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Israeli military strikes targets in Gaza after ceasefire delayed
From CNN’s Abbas Al Lawati
Israel’s military struck northern and central Gaza after an expected ceasefire was delayed Sunday.
The Israel Defense Forces said artillery and aircraft struck “a number of terror targets in northern and central Gaza.”
The military said earlier it would continue its strikes “as long as Hamas does not uphold its commitment to the agreement.” Hamas blamed “technical” reasons for the delay.
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Israeli strikes on Gaza will continue until Hamas provides names of hostages set for release, military says
From CNN's Dana Karni
Palestinians walk past damaged buildings in Gaza City on Sunday.
Mahmoud Issa/Reuters
The Israeli military will continue its activities in Gaza until Hamas provides the names of hostages set for release, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman said in a media briefing Sunday.
“As of this morning, Hamas has not fulfilled its commitment to the agreement,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
“The IDF continues to strike within the Gaza Strip as long as Hamas does not uphold its commitment to the agreement.”
Hagari made the comments just as the ceasefire in Gaza was set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET).
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Palestinians return to northern Gaza camp ahead of anticipated ceasefire, video shows
From CNN's Abeer Salman
As dawn broke on Sunday, Palestinians began arriving at a war-torn refugee camp in northern Gaza, in anticipation of a pause in fighting that has leveled much of the enclave over the last 15 months.
Ahead of the expected start of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, some Palestinians had returned to the Jabalya camp, a video obtained by CNN showed.
The footage shows a steady stream of people walking along a street lined by the rubble of destroyed buildings, while some bike through the crowd. A white car honks and drives past the pedestrians.
Much of the camp had been reduced to rubble, and many residents had fled or been forced to evacuate following an Israeli ground offensive in October last year.
Some Palestinians also returned to the northern cities of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, according to video shared on social media.
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Israeli military recovers body of soldier from Gaza in overnight mission, Netanyahu says
From CNN’s Dana Karni and Antoinette Radford
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the body of Israeli soldier Oron Shaul was recovered from Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a Saturday-night mission, hours before a ceasefire agreement with Hamas was set to go into effect.
In a statement released Sunday, Netanyahu said: “We will not rest until we complete the mission of bringing Hadar Goldin home as well.” He commended the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency and IDF for “their resourcefulness and bravery.”
“We will continue to work toward the return of all our hostages – both the living and the fallen,” he said.
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Truce start time passes as Netanyahu says ceasefire ‘will not begin’ until Hamas lists hostages to be freed
From CNN’s Lucas Lilieholm
The deadline for fighting in Gaza to end at 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET) on Sunday has arrived but Israel’s prime minister says the ceasefire “will not begin” until Hamas releases a list of hostages to be freed.
Hamas said it remained committed to the agreement, and blamed “technical” reasons for the delay, according to a statement on Sunday morning.
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Israeli troops seen withdrawing from southern city of Rafah as ceasefire approaches
From CNN’s Tareq Al Hilou, Abeer Salman and Antoinette Radford
Israeli forces have been seen withdrawing from parts of central and eastern Rafah, according to a CNN stringer based just outside of Gaza’s southernmost city.
It is unclear exactly when the troops left the area, but it comes ahead of the ceasefire that is expected to come into force at 8:30 a.m. local time (01:30 a.m. ET).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the ceasefire “will not begin” until Israel receives a list of hostages to be released. Meanwhile, Hamas maintains it is committed to the deal and blamed “technical” reasons for the delay.
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Gaza ceasefire will not begin until Israel receives list of hostages to be released, Netanyahu says
From CNN’s Dana Karni and Abeer Salman
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024.
Ohad Zwigenberg/Pool/AFP/Getty Images/File
The Gaza ceasefire “will not begin” until Israel receives a list of hostages to be released by Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Sunday morning, underscoring the precariousness of the deal about an hour before it was due to go into effect.
“The Prime Minister instructed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) that the ceasefire, which is supposed to take effect at 8:30, will not begin until Israel has received the list of released hostages, which Hamas has committed to providing,” the statement read.
That came after Netanyahu held a security situation assessment overnight regarding the delay in receiving the list of hostages expected to be released.
Hamas said it remained committed to the agreement, and blamed “technical” reasons for the delay, according to a statement on Sunday morning.
“The Hamas Movement confirms its commitment to the terms of the ceasefire agreement and points out that the delay in the delivery of the names to be released in the first batch is due to technical field reasons,” the statement read.
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Thousands rallied across Israel in the hours before ceasefire set to start
From CNN’s Lauren Izso and Nectar Gan
Hundreds of people gather in Israel demonstrated demanding the immediate return of hostages to their homes after the ceasefire came into effect, on Saturday, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Nir Keidar/Anadolu/Getty Images
Thousands of people gathered on streets across Israel on the eve of a ceasefire deal with Hamas, as the nation awaits the return of hostages who have been held captive for the past 15 months in Gaza.
In Tel Aviv, thousands of demonstrators gathered on Saturday night in a plaza known as “Hostages Square,” where families of the captives have held rallies for more than a year. Many have called for the government to negotiate the release of all hostages.
Luis Har, a former hostage held in Gaza for four months, expressed his concern about the well-being of those still trapped by Hamas.
Thirty-three Israeli hostages held by Hamas and its allies are expected to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which is set to last for six weeks. It remains unclear if all of them are alive.
Hamas and its allies still hold 94 of the 251 people taken from the October 7 attack on southern Israel. Of those, at least 34 are dead, according to the Israeli government, though the true number is expected to be higher. More than 150 have already been returned.
Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv and across Israel, anti-government protesters also gathered, calling for an end to the war and for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to resign.
“We want them back alive, not in coffins,” a crowd chanted as it marched from HaBima Square to Begin Road in Tel Aviv, holding up banners and waving Israeli flags.
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan Zangauker is held captive by Hamas, called on the nation to make sure the government “does not blow up this deal.”
Members of the “Pink Front,” a group of young artists and performers who often lead the chants at protests, shouted pro-democracy slogans to the beat of drums, calling for a comprehensive deal to bring back all hostages.
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What to know about the long-anticipated ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas
From CNN staff
Smoke plumes rising from explosions above destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday.
John Wessels/AFP/Getty Images
After hours of deliberation, Israel’s government approved a long-awaited hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas early on Saturday, removing the last remaining obstacle to the deal taking effect today.
Two far-right ministers were among those to vote against the deal.
During the first phase, dozens of Israeli hostages will be exchanged with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Here’s what you need to know about the deal:
When it starts: The ceasefire and hostage release deal is set to go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET) Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said. “The IDF has been preparing to receive the hostages after their release from Hamas captivity and is operating to provide suitable physical and psychological support, with careful attention to every detail,” the Israel Defense Forces said Saturday.
When hostages will be released: Three Israeli hostages are expected to be released on Sunday. The exact time is unclear, but the Israeli government has indicated it will be after 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). A total of 33 Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza will be released during the first phase of the deal, which lasts for six weeks. At Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), an entire ward has been cleared out and redesigned to receive the released hostages. Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be freed in the same period, according to the Israeli government.
What happens with aid: 600 trucks of desperately needed aid will be able to enter Gaza each day under the agreement — a significant increase from what has been allowed up until this point. Hundreds of aid trucks are already lining up at the Rafah border crossing, Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News reported. However, the United Nations has warned this would be “only a start” in addressing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Over 15 months of Israeli bombardment has laid waste to the Palestinian enclave, triggering a humanitarian disaster marked by hunger, disease and a lack of medical care.
What happens long-term: There are currently no concrete agreements on the second and third phases of the Israel-Hamas deal. Negotiations on these stages would only begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the deal. Earlier this week, an official told CNN the ceasefire is not guaranteed to continue beyond the first phase. However, another official said Israel is eager to “bring all our hostages back home” and will enter negotiations to enter the second phase of the agreement in good faith, which could lead to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The deal has caused a political storm within Israel’s government, with far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir threatening to resign.
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UN agency: "So much hope as the clock ticks" towards ceasefire
From CNN's Manveena Suri and Nectar Gan
Anticipation is building with only hours until the ceasefire in Gaza is expected to begin, with aid trucks lining up at a border crossing and humanitarian agencies awaiting a pause in fighting to provide the enclave with much-needed relief.
“The ceasefire is expected to go into effect in a few hours. We follow with anticipation and hold our breath,” the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said in a post on X.
Hundreds of aid trucks carrying food, clothing, medical supplies and other relief materials are already lined up at the Rafah border crossing, Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News reported.
During the truce, 600 trucks of aid will be able to enter Gaza per day under the agreement – a significant increase from what has been allowed up until this point.
However, the UN has warned that the increased aid allotment would be “only a start” in addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
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Far-right Israeli government ministers say they will resign over ceasefire deal
From CNN's Lauren Izso
Members of the Israeli far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party have announced their intention to resign from their government positions over the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas.
In a statement on Saturday, the party condemned the “reckless agreement” that they said would release “hundreds of murderers with the blood of men, women, and children on their hands,” referring to the Palestinian prisoners set to be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for the hostages.
The party also argued that the deal would amount to the “forfeiture” of the Israeli military’s achievements in the war.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee Yitzhak Wasserlauf, and Minister of Heritage Amihai Eliyahu will submit their resignation letters on Sunday morning, according to the Otzma Yehudit statement.
Otzma Yehudit’s departure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile governing coalition will not by itself be enough to topple the government.
On Saturday, Netanyahu said that the deal includes Israel’s right to return to war if Hamas does not abide by the agreement.
Ben Gvir later issued a statement that appeared to be a response to Netanyahu’s address, saying, “Given that Hamas has not yet been defeated, it is clear that we must return to war – and therefore, this should not be conditional.”
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IDF preparing for "gradual withdrawal" in some parts of Gaza, Israeli military official says
From CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim and Mike Schwartz
The Israel Defense Forces is preparing for a gradual withdrawal from some areas of Gaza due to the ceasefire and hostage deal expected to come into effect Sunday, a senior military official said.
“We will be adjusting our deployment, and our gradual withdrawal from specific locations and routes from within Gaza, in accordance with the agreement and the political echelons directly,” the official said Saturday.
The official said the IDF’s 162nd Division was currently in the north of Gaza and the 143rd Division was in the south, but did not say how they would be affected. The 99th Division in the Netzarim Corridor — a key buffer zone established by the IDF that bisects the Gaza Strip — would “be gradually moving as the agreement goes on,” the official said.
The official also repeated Israeli warnings to residents not to approach areas where IDF troops are stationed, noting that their whereabouts “will obviously change” as the troops withdraw.
Asked about the details of the phased withdrawals, the official said the IDF had been “planning in recent days and weeks,” but that the “political echelon” would ultimately decide.
