Israel has insisted a ceasefire with Hamas will not go ahead today until Hamas releases the list of hostages.
The Israeli military is continuing to carry out attacks in Gaza this morning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having warned the deal wouldn’t go ahead until the terrorist issued the list of the hostages due to be released.
The terrorist group has blamed the delay on ‘technical field reasons’.
‘The prime minister instructed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) that the ceasefire, which is supposed to go into effect at 8.30am, will not begin until Israel has the list of released abductees that Hamas has pledged to provide,’ Mr Netanyahu’s office said.
Gazans were seen celebrating and cheering at 8.30am local time in the central city of Deir el-Balah when the deal was supposed to come into effect.
IDF continues to ‘strike terrorist targets’
The IDF says it is continuing to ‘strike terrorist targets in Gaza’ amid the delay in the ceasefire.
The military said it is carrying out aircraft strikes in the northern and central areas.
Gazans ‘cheering’ ahead of ceasefire
Hundreds of Gazans were seen cheering and celebrating after 6.30am in the central city of Deir el-Balah, the time when the ceasefire was to come into effect.
Many were taking pictures on their mobile phones, clapping and hugging each other.
About 30 minutes later, footage showed a thick plume of grey smoke rising over northeastern Gaza.
Timeline of hostage release explained
According to the ceasefire agreement, the names of the list of hostages should have been provided 24 hours before the exchange – sometime after 4pm local time today.
Hamas says it is still committed to the deal but blamed ‘technical field reasons’ for it providing the names of the three people it planned to set free.
The deal comes in three stages the first six-week phase set to see more than 30 hostages released.
Israeli forces have also agreed to withdraw to the east away from the densely populated areas of Gaza as part of the deal.
British hostage Emily Damari will be released as part of the deal between Israel and Hamas, Israeli media reports.
The 28-year-old has been held in Gaza since she was shot in the hand and leg when snatched from her home in southern Israel during the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Under a deal finally agreed this week, 33 hostages are expected to be released, including women, ‘children, elderly people, as well as civilian ill people and wounded’.
Read the full story below.
Israeli military continue attacks in Gaza
Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari made the announcement in a televised statement this morning.
The IDF continues to strike within the Gaza area at this time. According to the prime minister’s directives, the ceasefire will not come into effect until Hamas fulfils its commitments
Netanyahu: Ceasefire is delayed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement this morning to say a ceasefire with Hamas had been delayed, just moments before the deal was due to come into effect at 6.30am.
It instructed the military not to begin the ceasefire.
Netanyahu warned last night the first phase of the deal would not go ahead until three female hostages were released.
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Israel-Gaza ceasefire live: Benjamin Netanyahu says Gaza ceasefire is delayed until Hamas releases list of hostages to be freed
