Israeli PM Netanyahu says ceasefire will not begin until Hamas releases hostage list

Ceasefire in Gaza delayed as Netanyahu awaits hostage list from Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a delay in the Gaza ceasefire, initially set to begin at 08.30 am on Sunday, pending Hamas’ submission of a list of hostages to be released. The ceasefire, which aims to end a 15-month conflict, has been brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States and involves multiple stages of hostage exchanges and military de-escalation.

Hostage exchange and ceasefire agreement

The ceasefire agreement, approved by Israel’s cabinet, will last six weeks in its first phase. Key elements include:

• Hostage releases: Hamas will release 33 of the 98 hostages—women, children, the elderly, and the ill—in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
• Initial exchange: Three female hostages are set to be freed on Sunday in exchange for 30 prisoners. Additional exchanges will follow weekly.
• Military withdrawal: Israeli forces will pull back from parts of Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern areas.

Netanyahu emphasized the importance of securing the hostage list before implementing the ceasefire. Hamas cited “technical field reasons” for the delay in providing the list.

US involvement and Trump’s role

The agreement was reached just days before US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. His team worked closely with President Joe Biden’s administration to finalize the deal. Trump has indicated he may extend a 90-day reprieve for implementing the ceasefire, contingent on the release of hostages.

Post-war uncertainty

Despite the ceasefire, Gaza’s future remains uncertain. Rebuilding efforts will require significant resources, and tensions persist:

• Israeli stance: Israel has vowed not to allow Hamas to regain power and has cleared large areas inside Gaza to establish a buffer zone.
• Political tensions: Netanyahu faces pressure from hardliners in his government, some of whom threaten to resign if the war is not resumed.

Regional and diplomatic impact

The war has reshaped the Middle East:

• Iran and Hezbollah: Iran’s network of militant groups, including Hezbollah, has been severely weakened, with significant losses in leadership and infrastructure.
• Syria’s shift: The Assad regime in Syria has been toppled, removing another Iranian ally.

However, Israel faces diplomatic backlash over the humanitarian toll in Gaza, with Netanyahu under investigation by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.

Conflict overview

The war began on October 7, 2023, with Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Since then, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has claimed nearly 47,000 Palestinian lives, leaving much of the enclave in ruins.

The ceasefire offers a fragile hope for ending the conflict, but challenges remain in achieving lasting peace and addressing the devastation in Gaza. The focus now turns to the hostage exchanges and whether the ceasefire will hold amid political and military pressures.

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