The long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas officially began on Sunday, January 19, 2025, following a delay caused by a dispute over the list of prisoners to be released. Initially scheduled for 6:30 AM GMT, the ceasefire was postponed for three hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Hamas provide a list of prisoners to be freed before the truce could take effect.

The list was eventually provided, and the ceasefire was confirmed at 9:15 AM GMT. The first three prisoners to be released under the deal include Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and British citizen Emily Damari. This release is part of a broader agreement that will see 33 hostages freed over several weeks, with the first phase starting on Sunday.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, tensions remain high. The Israeli military launched strikes on Gaza in the morning, resulting in casualties. According to the Gaza Civil Defence, eight people were killed and 25 others injured in Israeli airstrikes after the ceasefire was supposed to begin.

Additionally, Israel faced internal political challenges, with the far-right Jewish Power party, led by Itamar Ben Gvir, withdrawing from the coalition government over disagreements about the ceasefire agreement. Nevertheless, the government retains a slim majority in parliament.

The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, the US, and Egypt, represents a crucial step in de-escalating the 15-month conflict, which has led to the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians. However, the road to lasting peace remains uncertain, as both sides prepare for the next phases of the agreement, which include further prisoner exchanges and potential steps toward a broader resolution of the conflict.