The Israel-Hamas ceasefire, initially scheduled for 8:30 am local time, was delayed to 11:15 am after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited Hamas’s failure to provide the list of captives to be released. Hamas later announced the names of three Israeli captives to be freed, enabling the truce to proceed. The ceasefire includes preparations for a hostage-prisoner exchange expected later in the day. Israeli forces reportedly began withdrawing from Rafah but regrouped along the Philadelphi Corridor. The IDF issued warnings to Gaza residents to avoid military zones and extended closures in southern Israel. Hostage recovery complexes were set up near the Gaza border, with doctors and therapists on standby to assist released individuals. The Israeli health ministry provided recovery guidelines for hospitals receiving hostages, advising a minimum four-day stay. Meanwhile, schools in southern Israel delayed opening, and additional battalions were deployed to the West Bank to ensure security. The IDF Chief of Staff assessed military readiness ahead of the planned exchange.
