Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Sunday morning that the Gaza ceasefire would not commence until Israel received a list of hostages to be released by Hamas. This development occurred just an hour before the ceasefire was scheduled to take effect.
The statement from the Prime Minister's office emphasized the importance of receiving the list of released hostages before the ceasefire could begin. Netanyahu had instructed the IDF to hold off on implementing the ceasefire until the list was provided by Hamas.
Following a security situation assessment overnight, Netanyahu expressed concern over the delay in receiving the expected list of hostages to be released. Hamas, on the other hand, maintained its commitment to the ceasefire agreement and attributed the delay to 'technical' reasons.
In a statement issued on Sunday morning, Hamas clarified that the delay in delivering the names of the hostages to be released in the first batch was due to technical field reasons. Despite the setback, Hamas reiterated its dedication to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
The situation highlights the delicate nature of the ceasefire deal and the challenges involved in ensuring its smooth implementation. Both sides are working to resolve the issue promptly to allow the ceasefire to take effect and pave the way for a period of calm in the region.
