Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war delayed as Netanyahu demands hostage list
This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke plumes rising from explosions above destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip on January 18, 2025, a day before a ceasefire is set to take effect following the Israeli cabinet's approval of a deal between Israel and Hamas. (AFP Photo)
A long-awaited cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war was delayed Sunday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the last minute that it would not take effect until the Palestinian group provided a list of the hostages to be released.
Hamas, while “affirming its commitment” to the terms of the cease-fire, said: “The delay in providing the names of those to be released in the first batch is because of technical reasons.”
A statement from Netanyahu’s office, issued less than an hour before the truce was to start at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT), said he had “instructed the Israeli army that the cease-fire… will not begin until Israel has received the list.”
The initial exchange was to see three Israeli hostages released from captivity in return for the first group of Palestinian prisoners.
If the ceasefire goes ahead, a total of 33 hostages taken by Hamas during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel will be returned from Gaza during an initial 42-day truce.
Under the deal, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails.
The truce is intended to pave the way for an end to more than 15 months of war sparked by the Oct. 7 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history.
It follows a deal struck by mediators Qatar, the United States, and Egypt after months of negotiations and takes effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president.
In a televised address on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had U.S. support to return to war if necessary.
Calling the 42-day first phase a “temporary cease-fire,” he said: “If we are forced to resume the war, we will do so with force.”
Israel army says it ‘continues to carry out attacks in Gaza’
The start of a Gaza cease-fire was in doubt on Sunday, with Israel saying it would not order troops to stand down as scheduled till Hamas provided names of hostages due for release. Hamas has blamed technicalities for the delay.
Israeli army spokesman says Hamas didn’t provide the list of the hostages that are supposed to be released on Sunday, and therefore the cease-fire will not go into effect.
The ceasefire will not go into effect until Hamas fulfills its obligations and provides a list of the kidnapped women who returned today.
The ceasefire will not go into effect until Hamas fulfills its commitments and presents the list of the abductees who returned today.
The IDF will continue to operate offensively and defensively, and we will continue to carry out strikes in the Gaza Strip until Hamas fully fulfills its commitments.
Avichay Adraee, Israeli army spokesperson
Israeli army Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, in a press conference, says the military is continuing to strike in the Gaza Strip, as Hamas is not abiding by the cease-fire agreement.
“As of this morning, Hamas is not fulfilling its obligations, and contrary to the agreement, it has not given Israel the names of the hostages [set for release today],” he said.
“Per the directive of the prime minister, the ceasefire will not take effect as long as Hamas is not fulfilling its obligations. The Israeli army is continuing to strike now in Gaza, as long as Hamas is not fulfilling its obligations to the deal,” Hagari said.
