A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has taken effect following an almost three-hour delay after Hamas was late to name the three hostage it plans to release

“They’re returning to retrieve their loved ones under the rubble,” said Mohamed Mahdi, a displaced Palestinian and father of two. He was forced to leave his three-story home in Gaza City’s southeastern Zaytoun neighborhood a few months ago,

The Israel-Hamas war, now nearing a potential ceasefire, has devastated the Gaza Strip. Satellite photos offer some sense of the destruction in the territory, which has been largely sealed off to journalists and others.

The dispute is over the identities of several prisoners that Hamas is demanding to be released. Read more at straitstimes.com.

In May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the agreement, saying Israel would continue its military offensive in Gaza until it meets its objectives. But a lot has changed in the region since.

Mediators say Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants was poised to receive a final endorsement from Israel’s Cabinet Friday and could take effect as early as Sunday, but the critical political question of who will govern Gaza over the long run has once again been put off for another day.

At around 10:30 a.m. local time, Hamas released the names of the three Israeli hostages it planned to release, fulfilling the final requirement of the ceasefire.

A fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas began Sunday, with three hostages held by the Palestinian terrorist group for more than a year expected to be released.

Gaza ceasefire deal begins as British citizen among first hostages set for release - The ceasefire deal was signed off by Israel’s government on Saturday morning - but attacks have continued on the Ga

The radicals suggest that therefore they "have forced Israel to stop aggression despite the attempts [by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] to continue military actions"