Netanyahu delays ceasefire until Hamas provides hostage list

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which was scheduled to take effect at 8:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. Baku time) on January 19, will not commence until the Israeli side receives a list of hostages to be released by Hamas.

Netanyahu noted that Israel has not yet received the list of hostages to be released from Hamas, which may delay the ceasefire, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

He “instructed the IDF that the ceasefire, set to take effect at 8:30 a.m., will not begin until Israel receives the list of hostages for release, which Hamas promised to provide,” the statement from his office said.

The Times of Israel reported that three female hostages were expected to be released today, January 19. However, according to Israeli officials, Hamas was supposed to provide their names as early as January 18. Under the terms of the deal, the group was required to submit the list of hostages no later than 24 hours before their planned release, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. local time.

Hamas explained the delay in providing the list as being due to "technical reasons." In a statement issued shortly after Netanyahu’s remarks, the group stated that it "reaffirms its commitment to the terms of the ceasefire agreement."

By Khagan Isayev