THE FRAGILE ceasefire between Israel and Hamas sits on the brink as the deal was delayed after the terrorist group failed to hand over a list of hostages.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced at around 06.30am UK time – when hostilities were supposed to cease- that Hamas had failed to deliver the names of victims they would release.
Israeli tanks continued to shell areas in Gaza as the deadline passed – putting the whole deal on the brink of collapse after months of intense talks.
In a brief televised address, Hagari said the army will continue to attack Gaza.
And they would continue until Hamas complies with the agreement – which was thrashed out last week.
Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on technical field reasons.
It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal.
An Israeli official said mediators have provided assurances that the list will be delivered and the deal is still expected to go forward, though the timing remains in question.
Meanwhile, Israel announced that it had recovered the body of Oron Shaul, a soldier who was killed in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, in a special operation.
The bodies of Shaul and another soldier, Hadar Goldin, remained in Gaza after the 2014 war and had not been returned despite a public campaign by their families.
Netanyahu warned last night the ceasefire would not begin until the terrorist group – who slaughtered dozens of Israelis on October 7 – released the names of hostages to be freed this afternoon.
In a statement, the PM’s office said: “We will not move forward with the outline until we receive the list of hostages to be released, as agreed.
“Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. The sole responsibility lies with Hamas.”
US President-Elect Donald Trump earlier this week said Israel and Hamas had finally agreed to release the hostages trapped in Gaza after the brutal 15-month war.
The world had been waiting with bated breath as negotiators hammered out a peace deal.
For over a year, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have worked behind the scenes to craft a ceasefire plan, culminating in this week’s announcement that a deal had been reached.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani confirmed that the proposed agreement includes both a ceasefire and a hostage release plan, with the truce expected to go into effect on Sunday morning.
The deal would have seen the first hostages freed from Hamas captivity in a matter of days.
Late Wednesday night, the Israeli PM claimed Hamas had backtracked on part of the agreement but stopped short of saying the deal had fallen apart.
Netanyahu doubled down on his warning to Hamas again on Saturday evening as he suggested the campaign was not over yet, he said in a statement.
He said: “We maintain our right to resume the war if necessary”
Netanyahu added: “Hamas created these obstacles, not Israel.”
Israel’s leader also claimed he had support from the US to resume the war on Hamas if phase two of the deal fell through.
He also said Israel had the backing to control and keep its soldiers present in the Philadelphi Corridor – the border between Gaza and Egypt.
THREE-PHASE AGREEMENT
The ceasefire is built around a three-phase plan that aims to address both the hostage crisis and the broader humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The Israel-Hamas deal outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase that includes gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to north Gaza, says an official briefed on the agreement.
It will require 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza every day of the ceasefire, 50 of them carrying fuel, with 300 of the trucks allocated to the north.
GettyHostages being released by Hamas gunmen on November 2023[/caption] RexA memorial for murdered hostages seen at a memorial vigil[/caption] AFPPalestinians started celebrating after the announcement of the deal earlier this week[/caption]The first phase will focus on the release of 33 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The hostages released in the initial 42 days are reportedly those in critical condition – including one-year-old Kfir Bibas.
The next to be freed will be female civilians and female soldiers before finally the remaining civilian men, Channel 12 reports.
Biden also announced that part of the deal will see US hostages released in this initial phase.
During this stage, Israeli forces will withdraw from population centers in Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to what remains of their homes.
Humanitarian aid is expected to flood the region, with 600 trucks of supplies entering Gaza daily.
The second phase will see Hamas release the remaining hostages, primarily male soldiers, in exchange for further prisoner releases and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
In the third and final phase, the bodies of hostages who did not survive captivity will be returned to their families.
In exchange, Gaza would receive a three- to five-year reconstruction plan overseen by international authorities.
Over 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced since the start of the bloody war – with many of their homes decimated in the conflict.
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