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.

Celebrations erupted across the war-ravaged territory and some Palestinians began returning to their homes despite the delay, which underscored the fragility of the agreement.

Preparations are intensifying for the start of a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of hostages by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody, with some gaps remaining just hours before the deal was set to begin.