₦airaland Forum

The deadline for the start of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip passed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would not begin until Hamas provides the names of the three hostages it was set to release later on Sunday in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners.

The dispute had not been resolved when the deadline for the truce to begin passed at 8:30 a.m. local time. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top Israeli military spokesman, said the army “continues to attack, even now, inside the Gaza arena,” and would until Hamas complies with the agreement.

Meanwhile, Israel announced that it had recovered the body of Oron Shaul, a soldier who was killed in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, in a special operation. The bodies of Shaul and another soldier, Hadar Goldin, remained in Gaza after the 2014 war and had not been returned despite a public campaign by their families.

Netanyahu said he had instructed the military that the ceasefire “will not begin until Israel has in its possession the list of hostages to be freed, which Hamas committed to provide.” He had issued a similar warning the night before.

Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on “technical field reasons.” It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week.

The planned ceasefire, agreed after a year of intensive mediation by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, is the first step in a long and fragile process aimed at winding down the 15-month war.

The 42-day first phase of the ceasefire should see a total of 33 hostages returned from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees released. Israeli forces should pull back into a buffer zone inside Gaza, and many displaced Palestinians should be able to return home. The devastated territory should also see a surge in humanitarian aid.

This is just the second ceasefire in the war, longer and more consequential than the weeklong pause over a year ago, with the potential to end the fighting for good.

Negotiations on the far more difficult second phase of this ceasefire should begin in just over two weeks. Major questions remain, including whether the war will resume after the six-week first phase and how the rest of the nearly 100 hostages in Gaza will be freed.

Palestinian residents began returning to their homes in parts of Gaza City early Sunday, even as tank shelling continued to the east, closer to the Israeli border, overnight. Families could be seen making their way back on foot, with their belongings loaded on donkey carts, residents said.

“The sound of shelling and explosions didn’t stop,” said Ahmed Matter, a Gaza City resident. He said he saw many families leaving their shelters and returning to their homes. “People are impatient. They want this madness to end,” he said.

Israel’s Cabinet approved the ceasefire early Saturday in a rare session during the Jewish Sabbath, more than two days after mediators announced the deal. The warring sides were under pressure from both the outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump to achieve a deal before the U.S. presidential inauguration on Monday.

The toll of the war has been immense, and new details on its scope will now emerge.

Over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that sparked the war killed over 1,200. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have died.

Some 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced. The United Nations says the health system, road network and other vital infrastructure have been badly damaged. Rebuilding – if the ceasefire reaches its final phase – will take several years at least. Major questions about Gaza’s future, political and otherwise, remain unresolved.

⭕The IDF is continuing to operate and strike terrorist targets in Gaza.

A short while ago, IDF artillery and aircraft struck a number of terrorist targets in northern and central Gaza.

The IDF remains ready in offense and defense and will not allow any harm to the citizens of Israel.

Kelklein:
Ok two quick questions..

What exactly are the current conditions of these hostages at the moment..?!

Can Hamas confirm their status and number still with them..

It's good they come out clean on this.. to avoid these endless killing of civilians in Gaza by Israel under the guise of taken hostages.. because I don't understand killing close to 50,000 people because of less than 200 hostages..

chuose2:
God is gonna deal with allah and his followers

helinues:


Annoyingly, none of the parties involved in the war is winning.

You spent billions in buying weapons to kill others and at the end of the day, your people are still being killed. The toll figure might be different but killing is killing.

AbuTwins:
Awon asinwin!

Make Hama no answer again sef!

Na dm go bomb tire!

Dbegining:
The truth is; those hostages are Hamas' last life line. They know that once they release the hostages, Israel has no reason not to completely destroy them. That's why they arr being careful. They're like bank robbers that have been surrounded by the police and are trying to use hostages to buy time and maybe escape.

Anyways, they're in soup.

And where are those saying Israel were the ones begging for the ceasefire?

See ehn, person wey pass you pass you. Israel no be their mate for that middle east.

Padipadi:
Preach this to herdsmen ravaging ya region. Preach it to terrorists destroying ya country. Boko on the loose for over pourteen years.

Receive hot slaps of nuke for ya oblongata reset. Let Hamas release hostages. It can last longer than releasing semen. Strong head no good for poor man.