According to the BBC, the delay is due to minor issues which, however, should be sorted out within the day. If that is the case, the process of implementing the agreement could finally begin on Friday.
By Athena Papakosta
According to all the latest information, the ceasefire would start today at 10 am. However, the data for the first de-escalation after six weeks of war between Israel and Hamas changed at midnight on Thursday.
The head of Israel’s National Security Council, Tachi Hanegbi, made it clear that no Israeli hostages would be released before Friday. However, in a statement released by the Israeli prime minister’s office, Hanegbi added that “negotiations for the release of the hostages are progressing and continuing all the time.”
Information about the reasons for the new twist in the hostage release thriller is conflicting.
On the one hand, there are reports that the delay is due to the fact that Hamas has not ratified the agreement on the cessation of hostilities. On the other hand, other reports say that the Islamist Palestinian organization has not given Israel the list of hostages, who would be released during the first day of the agreement.
However, according to the BBC, citing a source within the Israeli government, the delay is due to minor issues which, however, must be settled within the day. If this is the case, the British network notes, the process of implementing the agreement may finally begin on Friday.
Relatives of the hostages held their breath
This new development is an additional blow to the families of the approximately 240 hostages as, for 48 days, they live with fear and anxiety for the fate of their loved ones.
After the green light was given in the early hours of Wednesday, the hearts of relatives and friends of the abductees began to beat loudly for fear that something might go wrong, even at the last moment, while analysts spoke of a fragile agreement which was approved without guarantees by two sides who do not trust each other.
As reported by international media, citing Israeli government sources, the delay in starting the process for the release of the 50 hostages cannot be ruled out as being equivalent to a delay in the start of the four-day ceasefire.
The hammering of Gaza is in progress
Wednesday’s announcements of a temporary cessation of hostilities came at a sensitive time for developments on the ground.
Israeli troops now control most of the northern Gaza Strip and have announced that they have destroyed much of Hamas’ infrastructure, including entrances to the group’s labyrinthine network of tunnels.
However, they know that a large part of this underground network remains intact and for this reason, until a few 24 hours ago, Israel did not hide its intentions to expand its operations in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Those Palestinians still remaining in the north report that fighting in the area intensified again on Wednesday night with some speculating that the Israeli armed forces are trying to make further progress before the temporary truce.
What we know about the deal and the 300 list
Hamas on Wednesday insisted it would abide by the deal but warned it would keep its finger firmly on the trigger while Israel made clear the war is not over, with Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricks underlining in an interview with CNN. that “we will respect the agreement and honor the commitments of the Israeli government. I hope our enemies will do the same.”
The identities of the 50 hostages to be released have not been released.
In their respective announcements, Israel and Hamas said that women and children would be released within four days, with reports that they spoke of a process that would be “broken” into four batches of 12 people, among whom will be Israeli citizens and/or dual citizens and not foreign citizens.
American sources report, however, that among them will be two American women as well as three-year-old Israeli-American Abigail whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on the morning of October 7.
Israel has stressed that “the release of every 10 additional hostages will result in an additional day of ceasefire” leaving the window for extending the agreement open.
For its part, Hamas stressed that hundreds of trucks with humanitarian aid – including fuel – would be allowed to enter, clarifying that the release of the 50 hostages would be in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians – women and children – held in Israeli prisons.
The relevant announcement from the office of the Prime Minister of Israel did not mention anything related. However, yesterday, early in the morning, the country’s Ministry of Justice released 300 names of prisoners who can be released.
The list, which was published in Hebrew, includes 123 boys aged 14 to 17, one 15-year-old girl, 144 men aged 18 and 32 women aged 18 to 59.
Most remain in custody awaiting trial, facing charges relating to cases of stone-pelting and rioting or even attempted murder.
As reported by the British BBC, the said list of names was made public because of necessary legal procedures followed in Israel according to which, before any prisoner is released, Israeli citizens have up to 24 hours to file an appeal with the Supreme Court of the country.
Israel currently holds 7,000 Palestinians accused or convicted. According to reports, 3,000 of them have been arrested in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas where the tension since October 7 is still reaching explosive proportions.
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
