The ceasefire was expected to begin on Thursday morning after being announced on Wednesday, but the fighting continued and intensified. Aerial bombardment and ambushes by Hamas fighters persisted in the hours leading up to the ceasefire, causing anxiety and stress for soldiers on both sides. There were delays in implementing the ceasefire due to bureaucratic obstacles and the need to work out the fine print of the agreement on the ground. Military officials had to figure out the logistics of exchanging prisoners and hostages, and the first captives were scheduled to be released just nine hours after the ceasefire was set to begin. Despite the potential for tension and complications, cautious optimism prevailed as the countdown to the ceasefire continued.