KUALA LUMPUR — The ceasefire in Gaza began three hours late today after Hamas released a list of three prisoners it will release today.
The Israeli’s Prime Minister’s Office in a statement announced that the truce was in effect as of 11:15 am local time (5.15pm in Malaysia), almost three hours after its was scheduled to begin at 8.30 am.
Israel continued to launch strikes on Gaza City and the north this morning after the 8.30am start time, killing at least 13 Palestinians and wounding 30, a representative of Gaza’s civil defense told CNN.
Hamas, meanwhile, said it released the names of three female Israeli captives it will release today. The women are aged 24, 28 and 31, Bernama-Anadolu Agency reports.
Israel had earlier said it would not put the ceasefire into effect until Hamas released the names of hostages to be freed today.
The prime minister’s offices acknowledged the list issued by Hamas and said Israel’s security establishment is currently reviewing the details.
In exchange for the release of the three Israeli hostages, Israel is to release Palestinian prisoners.
More Israeli hostages are to be freed in a batches in the coming days under the first phase of the ceasefire that will last 42 days. Israel’s army is also to withdraw from some of its positions in Gaza and allow displaces Palestinians to return.
In Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government is arranging the repatriation of 127 Palestinians back to their homeland during the ceasefire period.
The number includes 41 who were injured after the outbreak of the Oct 7, 2023 war, who were brought to Malaysia last August for medical treatment.
Although the ceasefire deal has been welcomed worldwide, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country still reserved the right to resume war on Gaza.
Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct 7, 2023, according to local health authorities. – January 19, 2025