The beginning of the agreement was delayed by almost three hours after Hamas’ delay in publishing a list of hostages to be released
The ceasefire between and the came into effect this Sunday morning (19). Initially scheduled for 8:30 am local time (3:30 am in Brasília), the agreement was postponed to 11:15 am (6:15 am Brasília time) due to the wait for the names of the hostages to be released to be released. The mediation of the agreement involved Egypt, Qatar and the United States, aiming to stop a conflict that began after a Hamas attack in October 2023.
Hamas authorities report that around 1,200 Israelis and nearly 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza lost their lives during the fighting. The ceasefire is seen as an opportunity to ease tensions in the region and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The expectation is that the daily flow of trucks with supplies will increase from 40-50 to 500-600 during the term of the agreement.
The agreement, which will initially last for six weeks, provides for Hamas to release 33 Israeli hostages, while Israel may release up to 1,904 Palestinians who are detained. However, the continuity of the pact is uncertain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the country could resume hostilities if the second phase of the agreement is not fulfilled.
Opposition to the deal is strong among Israel’s ultra-right religious base, which sees the move as a threat to national security. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced that members of his party plan to resign in protest against the ceasefire this Sunday.
Despite the beginning of the ceasefire, clashes in Gaza have not completely ceased. In the days before the agreement came into effect, more than 120 Palestinians were killed in bombings that hit areas in the center and south of the Gaza Strip.
*Report produced with the help of AI
Posted by Victor Oliveira
