Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza would not commence until Israel receives a list of hostages that Hamas plans to release. Netanyahu reiterated the point in a statement issued just an hour before the ceasefire was scheduled to begin at 8:30 am local time. Hamas attributed the delay in providing the names to “technical field reasons” but assured in a statement that it remains committed to the ceasefire agreement reached last week.
The exchange sparked uncertainty over the scheduled start of the ceasefire. Later on Sunday, Hamas is expected to release three hostages in return for numerous Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, marking the initial stage of a broader process to bring an end to the 15-month conflict.
Ceasefire brings new hope
In the first 42 days of the ceasefire, a total of 33 hostages are expected to be freed from Gaza, while hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be released. Israeli troops are set to retreat into a buffer zone within Gaza, allowing many displaced Palestinians to return to their homes. That apart, the heavily damaged region should witness an increase in humanitarian aid.
This marks only the second ceasefire in the conflict, expected to be more extensive and impactful than the previous weeklong pause over a year ago, with the potential to bring the fighting to a permanent close.
