The long awaited ceasefire agreement and release of hostages between Hamas and Israel, which was to come into force on Sunday morning in the Middle East, was delayed, with the Israeli army accusing Hamas of not having provided the names of the first hostages released. Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari made a statement at the scheduled start time, 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. Eastern Time), and said Hamas did not respect the agreement because the names of the hostages had not yet been communicated.
“According to the Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu), the ceasefire will not come into effect until Hamas respects its commitments to the agreement,” I had Agarwarning that “any violation of the agreement will have full security implications.”
He said the Israeli army “continues to attack, even now, inside the Gaza arena” and will do so until Hamas complies with the deal.
Shortly afterwards, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced that it had received the list of names of the first hostages to be released and declared that the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement would come into force. at 11:15 a.m. local time. (4:15 a.m. Eastern).
Hamas blamed the delay in transmitting the names on “technical reasons.” He said in a statement that he remained committed to the ceasefire agreement announced last week, but there was no indication how long implementation of the agreement could be delayed.
Tsafrir Abayov / AP
The CBS News team in Gaza confirmed that IDF strikes were underway in the northern and central Palestinian territory. Initial reports said at least three people were killed by gunfire in the north, and IDF soldiers reportedly opened fire on people trying to return home in the decimated southern town of Rafah.
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Majid al-Ansari announced on X on Saturday that the ceasefire would begin at 8:30 a.m. local time in Gaza on Sunday. He advised people to exercise caution when the agreement comes into effect and wait for instructions from authorities.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later warned that a ceasefire would not be implemented until Israel received the names of the hostages to be released, as had been agreed.
“Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. Hamas is solely responsible,” he said in a statement.
His statement came nearly three hours after Israel expected to receive the names Hamas was to give to mediator Qatar. There was no immediate response from Hamas or Qatar.
The prime minister, addressing the nation about 12 hours before the ceasefire began, also said Israel views the ceasefire with Gaza as temporary and reserves the right to continue fighting if necessary. He said he has the support of President-elect Donald Trump, with whom he said he spoke on Wednesday.
Early Saturday morning local time, Israeli cabinet approves ceasefire deal in Gaza, it would see the release of dozens of hostages and end the 15-month war with Hamas. This agreement brings both parties closer to the end of their conflict. the deadliest and most destructive fights of all time.
“We hope, in the name of God, that today is the last day of war,” one displaced man from southern Gaza told CBS News.
How the ceasefire and hostage agreement works
According to a translated draft of the agreement seen by CBS News and as described by President Biden, the agreement consists of three phases, each lasting 42 days.
Hamas would begin releasing hostages on day one, initially returning three to Israel, according to the plan seen by CBS News. On the seventh day, Hamas would release four hostages. Thereafter, Hamas would release three hostages taken in Israel every seven days, starting with the living, then returning the bodies of those who died.
It would release a total of 33 female and child hostages in the first phase, as well as hostages over the age of 50, according to the draft seen by CBS News.
Maya Alleruzzo / AP
Mr. Biden said on Wednesday that Americans would be among the hostages released in this phase, but he did not specify names or how soon they would be freed.
The rest of the hostages, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase which will be negotiated during the first. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining prisoners without a lasting ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from Israel.
Eli David, the brother of Eyvatar David, held hostage by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attack, told CBS News’ Remy Inocencio that he has mixed feelings as the ceasefire approaches . Eyvatar is expected to release in the second phase.
“If they have a heart, if they can empathize, if they know my brother, just send him a message,” Eli David said as a message to Hamas. “Tell him that we are fighting for him, that we love him, and that we have so much hope knowing that he is coming home.”
The plan calls for the release of some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase in exchange for 33 living and dead Israeli hostages. Of the prisoners, 1,167 are Gaza residents who were detained by Israel but were not involved in the attack on October 7, 2023. All women and children under the age of 19 from Gaza detained by Israel will be released upon during this phase.
According to the ceasefire plan, approved by the Cabinet and signed by Israel’s national security adviser, the exchange will begin at 9 a.m. EST on Sunday. In each exchange, the prisoners will be released by Israel once the hostages arrive safely.
Missile strikes continue as aid arrives
Despite the ceasefire announcement, sirens sounded in central Israel on Saturday, with the army claiming to have intercepted projectiles launched from Yemen.
The Iran-backed Houthis have stepped up their missile attacks in recent weeks. The group says the attacks are part of their campaign to pressure Israel and the West over the war in Gaza.
Israeli strikes also continued on Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 23 people had been killed the day before.
Additionally, during the first phase, Israeli troops are to withdraw to a buffer zone approximately one kilometer wide inside Gaza, along its borders with Israel.
Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images
This will allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, particularly in Gaza City and northern Gaza. With most of Gaza’s population huddled in huge, squalid tent camps, Palestinians are desperate to return to their homes, even though many have been destroyed or badly damaged by the Israeli campaign.
The largely devastated territory is also expected to experience an upsurge in humanitarian aid. Trucks carrying aid lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing to Gaza on Friday.
On Saturday, two Egyptian government ministers arrived in the northern Sinai Peninsula to oversee preparations for the delivery of aid and to receive the evacuation of injured patients, the Health Ministry said.
Hamas started the war with its October 7, 2023cross-border attack in Israel that killed some 1,200 people and left some 250 others captive. Nearly 100 hostages remain in Gaza.
Israel responded with a devastating offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children account for more than half of the deaths.
contributed to this report.