A cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours’ delay.

Iran Press/West Asia: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced the official start of the ceasefire in Gaza at around 11:30 am local time.

The Israeli military has received orders to implement the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported.

The cease-fire was originally scheduled to start at 8.30 a.m. local time (0630GMT), but it was delayed after Israel accused Hamas of delaying the release of a list of Israeli captives set to be released on Sunday.

Hamas said that it already submitted a list of three female Israeli captives set to be freed on Sunday.

Ben Gvir, the hard-line minister of Netanyahu's cabinet, and other members of the "Jewish Power" party announced their resignations in protest of the cease-fire agreement and the exchange of prisoners.

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