No ceasefire until Hamas provides captive list: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to delay the scheduled Gaza ceasefire until Hamas delivers the list of captives it plans to release, according to a statement from his office.

“The prime minister instructed the IDF that the ceasefire, which is supposed to go into effect at 8:30 am (0630 GMT), will not begin until Israel has the list of released abductees that Hamas has pledged to provide,” the statement read on Sunday.

Hamas, in response, cited "technical field reasons" for the delay in submitting the list but reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire agreement announced last week.

Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Amman, highlighted the immense international pressure on both Hamas and Israel to implement the ceasefire. “It would be very difficult to see how the ceasefire, particularly in its first phase, does not go ahead,” Dekker said.

She noted the potential for delays but emphasized that Qatar, a key mediator in the negotiations, is likely exerting significant pressure on Hamas to fulfill its obligations swiftly. “Hamas has reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire and has pledged to hand over the list as soon as possible,” she added.

The delay underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire process and the challenges of coordinating agreements between the two sides. Despite the setback, both parties have expressed their intent to proceed with the truce, raising hopes for a pause in hostilities amidst the ongoing conflict.

Source:  Al Jazeera