After a last-minute delay that Israel said was due to Hamas lagging in handing over the names of hostages to be released, the ceasefire in Gaza has taken effect.

Qatar’s prime minister on Wednesday announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, pausing the devastating 15-month war in Gaza and clearing the way for dozens of Israeli hostages to go home.

The Israeli military says it ''continues to attack'' inside the Gaza Strip as a dispute with Hamas delayed the start of a planned ceasefire.

Israel and Hamas agreed to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

Qatar says Israel and Hamas are at the “closest point” yet to agreeing on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages

Under the first phase of the ceasefire, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will go into effect at 6:30 GMT on Sunday. Early Saturday morning Israel’s Cabinet approved the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages and pause the 15-month war with Hamas,

The ceasefire agreement includes the release of hostages and a pause on the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Israel said a Gaza ceasefire it agreed with Hamas would go into effect at 0915 GMT Sunday, after confirming it had received a list of hostages to be freed. "According to the plan for the release of the hostages,

The first-stage ceasefire and hostage deal approved by Israel's cabinet on Saturday is a "complete victory for terrorism," Itamar Ben-Gvir said.

Gaza ceasefire begins as Hamas names British woman among three Israeli hostages to be released - Long-awaited truce on knife edge, worrying families of hostages and civilians in Gaza