Hamas releases the names of the first three Israeli hostages it plans to free, after the ceasefire was delayed with less than an hour to go
They are 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher and dual British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, who were kidnapped from their kibbutz, as well as 24-year-old Romi Gonen, who was taken from the Supernova Festival
The ceasefire was due to start at 08:30 (06:30 GMT) on Sunday but Israel delayed it after Hamas did not give them the list of hostages in time - Hamas says the delay was "due to technical field reasons"
Israel subsequently continued to carry out strikes on Gaza, with 10 people reported by the Hamas-run civil defence agency to have been killed since the truce was meant to start
Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as hostages
The attack triggered a massive Israeli offensive on Gaza, during which more than 46,800 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry
After that flurry of breaking news, we've just heard from the office of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that the ceasefire in Gaza will commence at 11:15 local time (09:15 GMT).
That means we're expecting it to start anytime now.
The Israeli hostages who'll be freed by Hamas as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal include the youngest and oldest hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, according to a list published by Israel.
Israel's official X account , external shared an image with the names of the first 33 hostages that are expected to be released.
Kfir Bibas was nine-months-old when he was first taken and has now had two birthdays whilst in captivity. Shlomo Mantzur, 86, is the oldest hostage to have been kidnapped and is expected to be in the first wave of hostages to be released.
Here's the list:
Image source, Israel/XThe list of names has been published on social media
Joel Gunter
Reporting from Jerusalem
Doron’s mother Simona, hugging Avi Shamriz, whose son Alon was also taken hostage but was shot dead by the IDF by mistake
In November 2023, on the weekend the first Israeli hostages were released from Gaza, I was with Yamit Ashkenazi, whose sister Doron has just been confirmed as one of the three hostages expected today.
Doron’s family knew then that she would not be part of that release, which prioritised mothers and children.
"I am a mother also, so I understand why the children have to come out first," Yamit said at the time.
"But Doron is my parents' young daughter. She is a human being. Behind every number there is a person with a story and relatives. So we must get them all back, not just certain categories."
Image source, Family handoutDoron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, was in her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas attacked
Yamit had just had a new tattoo done. It read: “As the sun we will rise again”, but had some of the sun's rays missing.
"They will be added when she is home," she said.
If all goes to plan today, more than a year on, the sisters will finally be reunited.
Yamit and her tattoo
In a post on Telegram, Hamas has just released the names of the three female hostages who it says it will be freed first, as part of the ceasefire with Israel.
They are Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher. Here's what we know about them:
Image source, Family HandoutEmily Damari
Image source, ReutersSmoke seen rising from an explosion in northern Gaza on Saturday morning
The Hamas-run Gaza civil defence agency has updated its death toll from this morning, saying 10 people have been killed by Israeli air strikes since the ceasefire was meant to have started this morning.
Official spokesman Mahmoud Basal says that includes six in Gaza City, three in the north and one in Rafah. Another 25 people have been injured.
Earlier, Israel's military said it would continue its military operation in Gaza until the ceasefire begins.
A further update for you now - mediators of the ceasefire talks and Israeli media now say that the names of the hostages set to be freed by Hamas have been handed over.
We're yet to see that list and there's been no update on whether this means the ceasefire will begin today, as originally planned, but we'll let you know when we hear.
This list of names has been the key stumbling block that meant Israel delayed the start of the ceasefire this morning, which was due to start at 08:30 local time (06:30 GMT).
Part of the deal states that the names of the hostages to be released must be provided at least 24 hours ahead of time. Earlier, Hamas said the reason for its delay was due to a "technical" issue.
A Hamas official says that the names of hostages to be released under a ceasefire deal with Israel will be handed over "any moment", but that "complexities" in Gaza and Israeli strikes have caused delays.
We'll bring you more on this shortly.
Joel Gunter
Reporting from Jerusalem
For the nearly two million people estimated to have been displaced in Gaza since the start of the conflict, about 90% of the population, the ceasefire delay prolongs an agonising wait to begin moving home.
The Israeli military has instructed the civilian population not to approach any of its military personnel or installations, as the IDF gradually withdraws.
“We urge you not to head toward the buffer zone or IDF forces for your safety,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram today.
Speaking to the BBC, Sabreen Doshan, 45, said even though she knew her home and news kiosk in Gaza City had been destroyed in the bombing she would travel back there the moment she was allowed.
"Even if I have to put my tent on rubble it will be OK, because I will be home," she said. "Nowhere can satisfy me now apart from home."
Palestinians in Gaza were hopeful this morning that the much-anticipated ceasefire would start at 08:30 local time.
Photographers had been sending through images of Gazans, of all ages, with smiles on their faces and gesturing the peace sign to cameras as day broke in the war-stricken territory.
But with Israel now confirming the deal is on hold until Hamas releases the names of the Israeli hostages set to be freed, that hope has turned to uncertainty.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, reuter
Image source, ReutersJoel Gunter
Reporting from Jerusalem
Eight people have been killed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza in the first hour that the ceasefire was supposed to be in effect, according to a spokesman for the Hamas-run Gaza civil defence agency.
Five have been killed in Gaza City, Mahmoud Basal says, and three in the north. Twenty-five more were wounded.
Video footage from Rafah in the south of the strip showed people already on the move, but the Israeli military has warned civilians not to approach the buffer zones it has set out nor any Israeli military personnel or infrastructure.
Image source, ReutersIt seems Israeli strikes are continuing in Gaza, with images showing huge clouds of smoke rising above the north of the territory.
A little earlier, an Israeli military spokesman told reporters fighting would continue until Hamas held up its end of the ceasefire deal and published the names of the first hostages it planned to release.
Now, in an updated statement, it adds:
"The IDF is continuing to operate and strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip. A short while ago, IDF artillery and aircraft struck a number of terror targets in northern and central Gaza. The IDF remains ready in defence and offence and will not allow any harm to the citizens of Israel."
Another update from the Israeli military now - it says special forces have recovered the body of a soldier who was killed in the 2014 Gaza war and which has been held by Hamas since then.
Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul’s remains were found during a "covert, special operation" in Gaza, according to a statement. His family was informed earlier following an identification procedure carried out by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Military Rabbinate, it adds.
Hamas was believed to have agreed to hand over Shaul’s body as part of the new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, which is meant to take effect today.
The group is also holding three other Israelis abducted before the 7 October 2023 attacks:
Image source, Getty ImagesAs we wait for more updates on the delayed ceasefire, let's take a look at what the deal actually involves.
It comes in three stages. The first six-week phase of the deal will see more than 30 hostages - including women, children and elderly people - exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Israeli forces will also withdraw to the east away from densely populated areas of Gaza, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes and hundreds of aid lorries will be allowed into the territory each day.
Negotiations for the second phase - which should see the remaining hostages released, a full Israeli troop withdrawal and a return to "sustainable calm" - are then due to start on the 16th day.
The third and final stage involves the return of any remaining hostages' bodies and the reconstruction of Gaza - something which could take years.
But unanswered questions remain - including which hostages are alive or dead, or whether Hamas knows the whereabouts of all those who remain unaccounted for.
Joel Gunter
Reporting from Jerusalem
The ceasefire, due to come into effect a short while ago at 08:30 local time (06:30 GMT), has been delayed until Hamas meets its obligations, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari just said.
The issue appears to be a failure by Hamas to provide the names of the three Israeli hostages it planned to release today.
Hagari also said the Israeli military would continue its military operations in Gaza until those obligations were met.
Image source, Israel Defense ForcesIn a brief statement, Hagari says:
"As of this morning, Hamas has not fulfilled its obligation, and contrary to the agreement, has not provided the State of Israel with the names of the returning female hostages.
"The ceasefire will not come into effect so long as Hamas does not fulfil its obligations."
As a reminder, the ceasefire agreement states names of hostages should be provided at least 24 hours before a planned exchange. Hamas says the reason for its delay is due to a "technical" issue.
We're hearing that Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military's spokesperson, will give a statement to reporters shortly.
It's expected he'll outline the reasons for the ceasefire being delayed - and what may happen next.
We'll bring you any key updates from what he says.
Joel Gunter
Reporting from Jerusalem
With less than half an hour to go before the ceasefire is due to begin, Israel is still waiting for the names of the three hostages expected to be released today, according to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to the ceasefire agreement, the names should be provided at least 24 hours before the planned exchange, which is supposed to happen sometime after 16:00 local time today.
The statement said that Netanyahu had instructed the Israeli military not to continue with ceasefire preparations until the list of names had been received.
As of late last night, the location of the hostage exchange was also unclear, with the Israeli military preparing three separate possible locations near the border with southern, central, and northern Gaza.
Hamas has said the delay was for "technical reasons".
So it remains unclear how this failure on their part will affect the start of the ceasefire, which was due to have come into force at 06:30 GMT
Mark Lowen
Reporting from Tel Aviv
Even in the minutes before the ceasefire is due to begin, the Israeli government says it is still waiting for the names of the three hostages slated for release today.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office now says the truce will not come into force until the list is delivered: another sign of how many obstacles have impeded peace.
Inside Gaza, Israeli troops are reported to be pulling back from some positions ahead of the deal, which would see dozens of Palestinians released today from Israeli detention in return for the hostages: a pattern that would continue over the next six weeks.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned last night that this was in his words “a temporary ceasefire”, and that Israel reserved the right to resume the war. Two sides divided by so much, but united by suffering, are holding their breath.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a ceasefire in Gaza has been delayed until Hamas releases a list of hostages.
A statement from his office says he instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) not to begin the ceasefire, which was scheduled to take effect at 8:30 local time (06:30 GMT).
Hamas says the delay is due to "technical field reasons".
The Israeli leader warned last night that the first phase of the deal to stop fighting in Gaza was “a temporary ceasefire”, and that Israel reserved the right to resume the war, with US backing, if it was to break down.
We'll bring you live updates as we get them here - stay with us.