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What we know
-
The long-awaited
ceasefire in Gaza
was delayed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded a list of the first hostages to be freed under the deal with Hamas. Hamas blamed the delay in producing the list on technical reasons in the field and reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire.
- The deal was originally schedule to go into effect today at 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET).
- After delays and hours of deliberations, the Israeli government had approved the deal just after midnight on Saturday local time.
- Netanyahu had said the ceasefire would be temporary and warned Israel would resume fighting if needed, affirming Israel’s right to defend itself with U.S. backing.
-
Thirty-three Israeli hostages are
set to be released
from Gaza, including
two Israeli Americans
, if the deal resumes.
- In exchange, 737 Palestinian prisoners and 1,167 Palestinians who were arrested in Gaza since the start of the war will be released.
-
At least
120 people in Gaza have been killed
since the deal was announced on Wednesday, with Palestinian officials saying Israel has intensified its airstrikes ahead of the ceasefire.