Gaza Ceasefire Deal Delayed After Hamas Fails to Provide List of Hostages to Netanyahu; War Continues- wna24

New Delhi: The much-anticipated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been delayed, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that the agreement will not proceed ‘without a list of hostages’ to be released, as per the terms of the deal. Earlier, Netanyahu has made it clear that the ceasefire will proceed only if the names of hostages to be released are provided, as agreed.  

The truce was originally scheduled to begin on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) and 12 p.m. IST, as announced by mediator Qatar. The ceasefire was seen as a step toward de-escalation after months of intense conflict. 

The Israeli military will ‘contiue to attack’ inside Gaza and would until Hamas agrees to term of the deal.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesperson for the Israeli military, said, “The army continues to attack, even now, inside the Gaza arena.”  

Hamas, on the other hand, cited “technical field reasons” for the delay in handing over the list of hostages but reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire deal announced last week.

In a televised address hours before the ceasefire, Prime Minister Netanyahu termed the truce as a temporary measure, underlining Israel’s right to resume military operations if deemed necessary. He claimed support from President-elect Donald Trump , who, during an interview with NBC News, said he had encouraged Netanyahu to “keep doing what you have to do.”  

While Netanyahu insisted the ceasefire was the best deal under the circumstances, it sparked political dissent within his government. Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a member of the far-right faction, opposed the truce and threatened to resign, along with other members of his party.  

Cabinet, in a rare meeting during the Jewish Sabbath, set off a flurry of activity and a fresh wave of emotions as relatives wondered whether hostages would be returned alive or dead. Families and thousands of others rallied once more Saturday night in Tel Aviv.

“Please keep going and saving lives,” said Anat Angrest, whose son Matan Angrest is still held in Gaza.

The pause in 15 months of war is a step toward ending the deadliest, most destructive fighting ever between Israel and the Hamas militant group. The deal was achieved under joint pressure from Trump and the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden ahead of Monday’s inauguration.

The first phase of the ceasefire will last 42 days, and negotiations on the far more difficult second phase are meant to begin just over two weeks in. After those six weeks, Israel’s security Cabinet will decide how to proceed.

Israeli airstrikes continued Saturday, and Gaza’s Health Ministry said 23 bodies had been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours.

“What is this truce that kills us hours before it begins?” asked Abdallah Al-Aqad, the brother of a woman killed by an airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis.

And sirens sounded across central and southern Israel, with the military saying it intercepted projectiles launched from Yemen. Iran-backed Houthi rebels there have stepped up attacks in recent weeks, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

In the ceasefire’s first phase, Israeli troops are to pull back into a buffer zone about a kilometer (0.6 miles) wide inside Gaza along its borders with Israel. With most of Gaza’s population in massive, squalid tent camps, Palestinians are desperate to get back to their homes, even though many were destroyed or heavily damaged.

In a post on X, Qatar’s foreign minister advised Palestinians and others to exercise caution when the ceasefire goes into effect and wait for directions from officials.

Israel’s military later said Palestinians will not be able to cross the Netzarim corridor that runs across central Gaza for the first seven days of the ceasefire, and it warned Palestinians not to approach Israeli forces.