Israel PM says ceasefire won't start at 630 GMT unless Hamas gives hostage list
Netanyahu said that Israel reserved the right to resume the war "if necessary", with US support, and that the current ceasefire was "temporary".
People hold placards during an anti-government protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages held captive since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, outside the Israeli Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv on January 18, 2025, a day before a ceasefire approved by Israel and Hamas is set to take effect. Photo: Jack GUEZ / AFP
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday that a ceasefire in Gaza scheduled to begin at 0630 GMT would not commence unless Hamas provided a list of hostages to be released, with the militant group saying the delay was due to "technical reasons."
"The prime minister instructed the IDF (military) that the ceasefire, which is scheduled to take effect at 8:30 am, will not begin until Israel has received the list of released hostages, as Hamas has committed to providing," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
Hamas said it was "affirming its commitment" to the terms of the ceasefire.
"The delay in providing the names of those to be released in the first batch is due to technical reasons," the group said in a statement.
Late on Saturday, Netanyahu had warned that the swap of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages on Sunday would not happen unless the list of captives was provided.
He also said that Israel reserved the right to resume the war "if necessary", with US support, and that the current ceasefire was "temporary".
The ceasefire, due to begin at 630 GMT, comes after months of difficult negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.