Israel-Hamas ceasefire highlights: 3 Israeli hostages, 90 Palestinian prisoners freed on day 1

A Hamas official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the list of hostages to be released by the group will be released “at any moment”.

He emphasised that the delay in sharing the list is purely “technical”.

The toll due to fresh Israeli strikes continued to increase as eight people were killed and 25 were injured in Gaza after the much-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was delayed.

Palestinian militant group Hamas said that it remains committed to implementing phase one of the ceasefire deal.

“The delay in submitting the names of those to be released in the first batch is due to technical and field reasons,” Hamas said in a statement.

Israeli dronstrikes killed three more Palestinians in Eastern Gaza, medics told news agency Reuters. The Israeli military said it continues to “attack” Gaza and expressed readiness to respond if Hamas violated the ceasefire agreement.

An Israeli official said mediators have assured that the list will be delivered, and the deal is still expected to go forward, though the timing remains in question. The official spoke anonymously because of the ongoing efforts to resolve the matter. (AP)

The Israeli Army spokesperson said its forces are still operating in Gaza. The statement comes after Prime Minister Netanyahu's warning not to implement the ceasefire deal without a list of hostages.

The spokesperson said the military is “fully ready” to respond if the terms of the deal are “broken” by Hamas.

According to the ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas, the militant group should provide the names of hostages it plans to release at least 24 hours before the planned exchange.

Israel claims that Hamas has not provided it with the list of names so far.

Israeli Defense Forces, in a statement on Sunday, said it recovered the body of an IDF soldier, SSGT Oron Shaul, who died during a combat in 2014 Operation Protective Edge.

“His body was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization. The efforts to return him, including the gathering of intelligence, continued for over a decade and during this war,” IDF said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Gaza's ceasefire would not begin until the Palestinian militant group Hamas provided a list of hostages to be released under phase one of the deal.

Netanyahu's announcement comes one hour before the ceasefire deadline is set to take effect by 8.30 am local time on Sunday.

The Israeli army warned Gaza residents not to approach its forces or make any movement towards the buffer zone ahead of a ceasefire taking effect Sunday at 0630 GMT.

"We urge you not to head towards the buffer zone or IDF forces for your safety," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram. "At this stage, heading towards the buffer zone or moving from south to north via Gaza Valley puts you at risk. Anyone heading towards these areas endangers themselves."

Ahead of the truce, displaced Gazans prepared to return to whatever is left of their homes.

"I will go to kiss my land," said Nasr al-Gharabli, who fled Gaza City for a camp farther south. "If I die on my land, it would be better than being here as a displaced person."

Jerusalem residents said the deal had been coming for a long time.

"Hopefully, a maximum amount of hostages will be coming back", said Beeri Yemeni, a university student. "Maybe this is the beginning of (the) end of suffering for both sides, hopefully," he said, adding that "the war needed to end like a long, long time ago."

Israeli strikes on Gaza continued on the eve of the truce, with at least five members of one family being killed when a strike hit their tent in Khan Yunis, according to the Gaza Civil Defence agency.

Explosions were heard over Jerusalem as Yemen's Huthi rebels launched a barrage of missiles at Israel in a show of support for Palestinians.

The Huthis said they targeted the defence ministry in Tel Aviv and also fired two missiles at the Red Sea port city of Eilat.

They also targeted an American aircraft carrier in the Red Sea on Sunday and warned of "consequences" should there be any retaliation during the ceasefire period.

Families of British-linked hostages have expressed deep anxiety and cautious hope ahead of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.

Reflecting on the emotional toll of waiting, Ma’anit told the PA news agency: “I think I’m feeling every spectrum of human emotion all at once. I am incredibly anxious, filled with trepidation, but also optimistic.” Read more

People gathered opposite the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Saturday in support of the hostages held in Gaza, describing being torn between hope and fear.

"It's a mix of hope and fear," said Jean-David Ichay, president of the "Tous 7 Octobre" association.

"There's already the fact that only 33 hostages have been announced so far... The rest will either happen later or not at all," he said.

In southern Israel, schools will delay opening until 10 am, anticipating potential Hamas rocket fire just before the ceasefire takes effect, news agency Associated Press reported.

Israeli troops inside Gaza will primarily remain along the borders with Israel and Egypt and will maintain a presence along the road dividing northern and southern Gaza, according to a map released by the Israeli military.

Meanwhile, hundreds of trucks carrying much-needed humanitarian aid are expected to enter Gaza.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas will begin at 06.30 am GMT, news agency AFP reported.

Gazans displaced by the war to other parts of the devastated territory were preparing to return home.

Israel has prepared reception centres to provide medical treatment and counselling to the freed hostages before they are returned to their families after their long ordeal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel cannot proceed with the agreed prisoner exchange until Hamas provides the list of hostages to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

The government on Friday notified the families of the 33 Israeli hostages expected to be set free.

Israel says 65 more hostages are currently held in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 36 confirmed dead.

Israeli forces on Sunday began withdrawing from Gaza's Rafah to the Philadelphi corridor along the border between Egypt and Gaza.

The Philadelphi Corridor, also called Philadelphi Route, is the Israeli code name for a narrow strip of land, some 100 metres wide and 14 km (8.7 miles) long. One purpose of the route was to prevent the movement of illegal materials (including weapons and ammunition) and people between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.