Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel had officially received a list of three female hostages who are expected to be released later today.
A fragile cease-fire and hostage deal reached between Hamas and Israel came into effect on Sunday morning, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel had officially received a list of three female hostages who are expected to be released later today.
At the request of the prime minister’s office, the names are not yet being released publicly.
“We request all media and the public not to circulate the details of the list … and safeguard the privacy of the families,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Israel repeatedly said throughout Saturday night into Sunday morning that it was yet to receive the list of hostage names from Hamas agreed to in the cease-fire deal. According to the agreement, Hamas was meant to have provided the names of hostages to be released 24 hours ahead of time. The first release was expected around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, local media said.
Hamas previously said it would release three female Israeli civilian hostages on day one of the cease-fire and four more on the seventh day. It would then release three more hostages every seven days.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security meeting Saturday night regarding the delay after not receiving the names, his office said.
Netanyahu “instructed the IDF that the cease-fire, which is scheduled to take effect at 8:30 a.m., will not begin until Israel has the list of hostages to be released, which Hamas has pledged to provide,” it added.
Early on Sunday morning the start of the cease-fire remained uncertain, as Netanyahu said that Israel was still awaiting the names of the three female civilians who Hamas had said they would release on Jan. 19. The names were supposed to have been released Saturday afternoon.
Hamas released a statement shortly after saying the delay was due to “technical reasons,” adding that it “confirms its commitment to the terms of the ceasefire agreement,” local media reported.
In the upcoming phase one of the deal, if it holds, Hamas will release a total of 33 hostages—most of whom are still alive. In exchange, Israel has agree to release an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners convicted of acts of terror against Israel.
By Melanie Sun
