Netanyahu says the Gaza ceasefire will not begin until Hamas provides a list of hostages Israel-Palestine Conflicts News

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The Prime Minister of Israel orders the army not to start a standstill until the names are released. Hamas says the delay is due to ‘technical reasons’.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli military not to start a ceasefire in Gaza, scheduled to begin at 8:30am (06:30 GMT), until Hamas releases the names of hostages to be released, his office said.

“The prime minister has instructed the IDF that the cease-fire, which is due to take effect at 8:30 am, will not begin until Israel has the list of hostages released by Hamas that it has promised to provide,” his office said in a statement on Sunday. .

In a statement shortly afterwards, Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on “technical grounds”, and said it was committed to the ceasefire announced last week.

Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Amman, the capital of Jordan, said there is “so much international pressure” on both Hamas and Israel, it would be “very difficult” to see how the ceasefire, especially the first phase, does not continue. . .

“Will there be any possible delays at this time? I am sure that Qatar will put incredible pressure on Hamas, if indeed these names have not been given, to do so,” he said.

“But Hamas has reiterated that it is committed to a cease-fire, and will convey these terms as soon as possible.”

Netanyahu’s warning came a few hours after his speech in which he said that Israel reserved the right to restart the war in Gaza, and that it was supported by the United States to do so if the second phase of the ceasefire was ineffective.

The first phase of the 42-day ceasefire should see 33 prisoners returned from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel.

Israeli forces must return to safety inside Gaza, and many displaced Palestinians must be able to return home. The devastated region should also see an increase in humanitarian aid.

This will be only the second stoppage of the war, which is proposed to be longer and more consequential than the weeklong stoppage more than a year ago, with the potential to end the fighting for good.

Negotiations for the second, more difficult phase of the ceasefire should begin in about two weeks. Key questions remain, including whether fighting will resume after the first six-week phase and how the nearly 100 others in Gaza will be freed.