Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Jan 19: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will not move forward with the Gaza ceasefire agreement unless Hamas provides a list of 33 hostages to be freed in the first phase, scheduled for Sunday.

The ceasefire deal, mediated by Qatar, requires Hamas to submit the list at least 24 hours before the release of hostages. However, this condition has yet to be fulfilled. “We will not move forward with the agreement until we receive the list of hostages who will be released, as agreed. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. The sole responsibility lies with Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Saturday.

The ceasefire agreement, approved by Israel’s security cabinet, involves a temporary pause in the 15-month-long conflict and an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Under the first 42-day phase, Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages, including children, women, and individuals over the age of 50. In return, Israel will release 50 Palestinian prisoners for each female Israeli soldier freed and 30 prisoners for other female hostages.

The conflict, which has claimed nearly 48,000 lives, escalated following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, in which over 1,200 people were killed in Israel and 250 were taken hostage.

The ceasefire is set to begin at 8:30 am on Sunday, with the first exchange of hostages and prisoners expected after 4 pm Negotiations for the more challenging second phase of the deal are slated to begin two weeks into the agreement. After six weeks, Israel’s security cabinet will review the situation and determine the next steps.

As the ceasefire approaches, families of hostages await updates, Palestinians prepare to welcome freed detainees, and humanitarian groups are gearing up to deliver aid during the temporary pause in hostilities.