A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has officially begun.
The truce took effect at 9.15am Irish time, following a nearly three-hour delay.
It was due to begin at 6.30am, but shortly before it was set to come into effect, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was on hold until Hamas produced a list of Israeli hostages to be freed.
The names of three Israeli hostages to be freed by Hamas have since been released.
The three names have been announced as Romi Gonen (24 years old), Emily Damari (28 years old) and Doron Steinbrecher (31 years old).
Humanitarian aid
Spokesperson for humanitarian group UNWRA Sam Rose has said the ceasefire is vital to get much-needed aid into Gaza.
"People here have really been hoping that they could start to breathe again," he said.
"They've waited 16 long months for this, they know the road ahead is long and fraught."
During the delay, Israel's military continued to carry out strikes on what it called 'terror targets'.
Main image: Palestinians celebrate the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
