The ceasefire was supposed to take effect at 7:30 Swedish time. The reason for the delay was that Hamas had not submitted a list of the persons in the Israeli hostage group who, according to the agreement, are to be released.
The terrorist-stamped organization confirmed that the lists were delayed due to "technical problems". But shortly after 9 am, reports emerged that the list had been submitted.
No official reaction from Israel had been received by 9:30 am.
Attacks continue
When the clock struck 7:30, images from the AFP news agency showed hundreds of Gazans in the city of Dayr al-Balah in central Gaza beginning to celebrate the ceasefire, which they believed had taken effect.
Many took pictures with their mobile phones, clapped, and hugged each other.
But at the same time, the Israeli army's spokesperson announced that the attacks would continue.
Shortly afterwards, the Israeli army reported that attacks were underway against "terrorist targets" in northern and central Gaza with artillery and fighter jets.
According to rescue workers in Gaza, eight people were killed and 25 injured during Sunday morning's Israeli attacks.
33 to be released
According to the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is to release three people from the Israeli hostage group on Sunday. Then, another 30 people will be released in stages. In exchange, hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel will be freed.
When the ceasefire takes effect, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will be able to return to their war-torn hometowns.
Gazans are not allowed to approach the Israeli forces, and the Israeli army warns that moving north still poses a danger, as does approaching the border crossing in Rafah and the military's buffer zones.
During the ceasefire, significantly more humanitarian aid will be allowed to flow into Gaza, after a long period during which only small shipments have been allowed through. Trucks are reported to be standing by in Egypt to cross the border crossing in Rafah as soon as possible.
During the terrorist-stamped Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, around 250 people, mostly Israelis, were taken hostage and brought to Gaza. Some of them are still being held by Hamas and other armed extremist groups that participated in the attack.
During a week-long ceasefire in November 2023, over 100 hostages were exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Several more Israelis have been freed by the country's military.
Currently, it is estimated that nearly 100 hostages remain in Gaza. But it is unclear how many of them are still alive.
More than 46,800 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed since the start of the war, according to health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
During the same period, nearly 1,600 Israelis have been killed, around 1,200 of them during the October 7 attack, according to Israeli authorities.
Almost the entire population of Gaza is on the run within the territory's borders, according to UN estimates. Many of them have been forced to flee multiple times. Large parts of Gaza's infrastructure lie in ruins.
Phase one
Lasts for six weeks
Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages
Israel will release over 730 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
Israel will make some initial military withdrawals from key areas in Gaza.
Much more aid and supplies will be allowed into the population.
Negotiations on the forms of the next phase will begin.
Phase two
Hamas will release all remaining hostages who are still alive.
Israel will release more imprisoned Palestinians.
The Israeli military will begin a full withdrawal.
Phase three
Hamas will hand over the remains of dead hostages.
A three-to-five-year reconstruction of devastated Gaza will begin under international supervision.
Border crossings to the area will be opened.
Sources: BBC, The New York Times, Al Jazeera, AFP, The Times of Israel
