Israel says Gaza ceasefire won’t start without hostage list – DW – 01/19/2025

The Israeli army says it will “continue to attack” inside the Gaza Strip as a planned ceasefire scheduled to come into force on Sunday morning is delayed by a dispute with Hamas.

The chief spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said the force would not launch until Hamas handed over the names of three hostages to be released during the day.

The initial exchange under a ceasefire agreement agreed last week was for Hamas to release three Israeli hostages in exchange for the first group of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

“The IDF is currently continuing attacks in the Gaza Strip. In accordance with the Prime Minister’s instructions, the ceasefire will not come into force until Hamas fulfills its commitments,” he said in a televised statement.

His comments echo earlier statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a statement on

Medics in Gaza say three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone strike in eastern Gaza City on Sunday, while the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said at least eight people were killed in the latest attacks.

The Israeli military says it has found the body of an Israeli soldier who had been held in Gaza since 2014, shortly before the ceasefire began.

“Last night, in a special operation by the Shin Bet (security agency) and the IDF (military)… we brought the body of Golani fighter Oron Shaul back to Israel,” the army said in a statement.

The bodies of Shaul and another soldier, Hadar Goldin, remained in Gaza after the 2014 Israel–Hamas war.

A public campaign launched by their families failed to recover their remains.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again said that a ceasefire in Gaza will not begin until Hamas releases the names of hostages to be released in the first phase of a true deal, his office said.

“The Prime Minister instructed the IDF to cease fire, which will take effect at 8:30 a.m. [0630 GMT]”The operation will not begin until Israel releases the list of abducted people, which Hamas has promised to make available,” his office said in a statement.

Hamas responded with a statement blaming “technical sector reasons” for the delay in releasing the names.

However it reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire deal agreed last week.

The Israeli military (Israel Defense Forces) has issued an online warning to Gaza residents ahead of the impending ceasefire to avoid moving towards its troops or the buffer zone, saying that doing so would put them in danger.

“We urge you not to head towards the buffer zone or IDF forces for your safety,” military spokesman Avichai Adrai said on social media. “At this stage, going towards the buffer zone or going from south to north through the Gaza Valley puts you at risk. Anyone going towards these areas puts themselves at risk.”

X, earlier in a statement on Twitter, Adrai also warned against using the sea in coastal areas for “fishing, swimming and diving”.

The ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hamas is due to come into effect at 8:30 am local time (0630 GMT).

Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages in the first phase of the deal. In exchange, hundreds of Palestinians would be released from Israeli custody.

It is being told that three female hostages will be released on the first day of the ceasefire. Israeli media reported that his release was scheduled for 4 pm local time.

The deal includes three phases, the first of which will include an initial six-week break in fighting.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the first phase of the agreement a “temporary ceasefire” and stressed that Israel could return to war if necessary.

The deal was announced on Wednesday after months of negotiations brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

SDI/SMS (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)