Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said his government would not be able to move forward with the truce unless they had received a list of hostages who would be released by Hamas.
Netanyahu also said that Israel reserved the “right to resume war if necessary” with US support.
“We will be unable to move forward with the framework until we receive the list of the hostages who will be released, as was agreed. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. Hamas is solely responsible,” Netanyahu said in a post on X.
The Israeli PM demanded that names of hostages to be freed on Sunday before the prisoner swap, reported news agency AFP.
Though uncertainty remains regarding the identities of the 33 hostages scheduled for release during the initial six-week phase and their survival status, the second ceasefire of this war will commence on Sunday.
In a significant development on early Saturday, Israel’s Cabinet endorsed a ceasefire agreement for Gaza, which would secure the release of numerous hostages and temporarily halt the 15-month conflict with Hamas.
This marks a potential turning point in their most devastating confrontation to date.
Despite Qatar and the US announcing the ceasefire on Wednesday, the agreement faced delays due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu citing last-minute complications with Hamas.
The Cabinet’s decision to meet beyond the start of the Jewish Sabbath highlighted the crucial nature of these discussions. Traditional Jewish law typically restricts government activities during Sabbath except for life-threatening emergencies.
Netanyahu has directed a specialised team to prepare for the hostages’ return from Gaza, with affected families receiving confirmation of the agreement. The agreement includes the release of numerous Palestinian detainees and promises increased humanitarian assistance to the severely damaged Gaza region.
A preliminary list of 737 Palestinian prisoners, primarily women and minors, has already been published by Israel’s justice ministry.
The war, triggered by Hamas’s cross-border attack, has left over 46,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry, with international calls for a ceasefire growing louder.
