Israel-Hamas Ceasefire in Jeopardy? Netanyahu Warns Over Hostage Release

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, aimed at halting hostilities and facilitating the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, is reportedly set to begin on Sunday. However, the deal now faces uncertainty due to a dispute over the release of hostages.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning, stating that Israel will not proceed with the truce unless Hamas provides a confirmed list of hostages to be released, as previously agreed. His statement came nearly three hours after the deadline for Hamas to submit the list to Qatari mediators had passed, with no immediate response from Hamas or Qatar.

Will the Israel-Hamas Truce Begin as Planned?

Qatari officials announced on Saturday that the ceasefire is scheduled to take effect on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT). The agreement, brokered by the United States and Qatar, was approved by Israel’s security cabinet during an unusual meeting held on the Jewish Sabbath.

Under the terms of the deal, the first phase of the ceasefire will see 33 Israeli hostages released over six weeks. In exchange, Israel will release 737 Palestinian prisoners to Hamas.

The ceasefire is intended to bring an end to the ongoing 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Tel Aviv. However, with tensions rising over the hostage list, the fragile truce remains at risk of collapse.