The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is scheduled to start at 8:30am local time
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated early Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza will not start until Israel has a list of hostages that Hamas plans to release, media outlets have reported, citing a statement from his office. The comments were made just one hour before the ceasefire was scheduled to begin at 8:30am local time (06:30 GMT).
Hamas attributed the delay in providing the names to “technical field reasons” and affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement announced the previous week.
Netanyahu also announced the return of IDF soldier Oron Shaul’s remains, who was killed in Gaza in 2014 and had been held by Hamas since then.
“I embrace the dear Shaul family, and congratulate the Shin Bet and IDF forces for their resourcefulness and courage,” Netanyahu said in a social media statement.
He mentioned that photos of Shaul and another fallen soldier, Hadar Goldin, whose body has also been held by Hamas for nearly nine years, have been displayed in his office as a constant reminder of his duty to bring them home.
Netanyahu affirmed that Israel has successfully completed the mission to recover Shaul and stressed that efforts will continue until Goldin is also brought home. He reiterated the commitment to retrieve all hostages, both living and deceased.
During the first phase of the truce, which will last 42 days, Hamas must release 33 hostages in exchange for the freeing of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. By the end of the phase, all living women, children, and older people held by the militants are to be freed.