Hamas claims to have given mediators the names of three Israeli captives who will be freed by the Palestinian group in Gaza.
“As part of the prisoner exchange agreement, we decided to release today: Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31,” Abou Obeida, gatekeeper, said on Sunday. – spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades.
Israeli authorities confirmed having received the list.
The announcement could pave the way for the truce – set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time (06:30 GMT) – after a delay of several hours.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army continued its genocide in Gaza despite a ceasefire agreement, killing at least 10 Palestinians and injuring 25 others.
Earlier Sunday, an Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army not to launch operations. ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas publishes the names of the captives to be released.
“The prime minister asked the IDF that the ceasefire, which is supposed to come into effect at 8:30 a.m., will not begin until Israel has the list of released (captives) that Hamas has committed to to provide,” his office said in a statement. on Sunday.
In a statement shortly afterwards, Hamas blamed the delay in releasing names on “technical reasons on the ground” and said it was committed to the ceasefire agreement announced last week. .
Netanyahu’s warning came hours after his speech in which he said Israel retained the right to resume the war in Gaza and had U.S. support to do so if the second stage of the ceasefire is unsuccessful.
Along the same lines, the far-right party of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced that it was leaving Israel’s ruling coalition in protest against what it called ” scandalous” the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
In a statement, Jewish Power called the ceasefire agreement a “capitulation to Hamas” and denounced what it called the “release of hundreds of murderers” and the “renunciation of the achievements (of the Israeli army) in the war” in Gaza.
Netanyahu retains a slim majority in the Israeli parliament despite his resignation.
Tel Aviv Tribune’s Stefanie Dekker, speaking from Amman, the Jordanian capital, said earlier that there was “so much international pressure” on Hamas and Israel that it would be “very difficult” to see how to cease it. -fire, especially the first phase, would not proceed. in front.
“Will there potentially be delays at this stage? I’m pretty sure Qatar will put incredible pressure on Hamas, if these names haven’t been released yet, to do so,” she said.
“But Hamas has reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire and will then release these names as soon as possible. »
The first 42-day phase of the ceasefire is expected to see a total of 33 captives returned from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel.
Israeli forces are expected to withdraw to a buffer zone inside Gaza, and many displaced Palestinians should be able to return home. The devastated territory is also expected to see an influx of humanitarian aid.
It will be only the second halt to the war, proposed to be longer and more consequential than the week-long pause more than a year ago, with the potential to end the fighting for good.
Negotiations on the much more difficult second phase of this ceasefire are expected to begin in about two weeks. Key questions remain, including whether the war will resume after the first six-week phase and how the remainder of the roughly 100 prisoners in Gaza will be freed.
Israel’s cabinet approved the ceasefire on Saturday in a rare session during the Jewish Sabbath, more than two days after mediators announced the deal.
The warring sides were under pressure from the outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump to reach a deal before the U.S. presidential inauguration on Monday.
