The truce aims to halt Israeli strikes that have killed more than 46,800 Palestinians and laid waste to the enclave, plus see the gradual release of hostages held in captivity for 15 months.

The plan is for Hamas to hand the abductees to the Red Cross, which will deliver them to the Israeli military in Gaza. The hostages will be evacuated to hospitals.

Israeli PM Netanyahu said Hamas had not lived up to its commitment to provide the names of the three hostages it was set to release later on Sunday in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners.