Israel-Hamas ceasefire latest: Gaza truce in limbo as Netanyahu demands list of hostages to be freed – UK Times

At least eight Palestinians have been killed and 25 others injured as the ceasefire deal fails to materialise, the Palestinain Civil Emergency Service has said.

Three Palestinians were killed in eastern Gaza city by Israeli drones that opened fire in some parts east of the city, medics in the enclave said on Sunday.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had struck “terror targets” in northern and central Gaza.

The strikes come as the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was delayed as Hamas had not fulfilled its obligation to send Israel the list of hostages to be released on the first day.

In a statement, the IDF said it was “continuing to operate and strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip”.

“A short while ago, IDF artillery and aircraft struck a number of terror targets in northern and central Gaza,” the military said.

“The IDF remains ready in defence and offence and will not allow any harm to the citizens of Israel.”

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.

However, the deal has now been thrown into limbo after Israel said Hamas had not complied with its obligations, and that the ceasefire would not commence until they had received a list of hostages set for release.

The Israeli military says it “continues to attack” inside the Gaza Strip as a dispute with Hamas delayed the start of a planned ceasefire.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military’s chief spokesman, said the truce would not begin until Hamas hands over the names of three hostages to be released later on Sunday, echoing an earlier statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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.

A military spokesman for Israel told reporters that Hamas is not meeting its obligations to send a list of hostages.

Daniel Hagari said that the ceasefire will not take effect as long as the militant group do not need its demands, and that Israel will continue to attack.

“As of this morning Hamas is not complying… Israel is committed to the agreement,” he said.

A military spokesman for Israel told reporters that Hamas is not meeting its obligations to send a list of hostages.

Daniel Hagari said that the ceasefire will not take effect as long as the militant group do not need its demands, and that Israel will continue to attack.

Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military’s spokesperson, has begun to give a statement to reporters.

It’s expected he’ll outline the reasons for the ceasefire being delayed and what may happen next.

The ceasefire deal should now be in effect, with the truce scheduled to begin at 8.30am local time (6.30am GMT).

However, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military not to begin the ceasefire until they receive a list of hostages set for release from Hamas.

The exchange has raised doubts about whether the ceasefire would begin as planned, the first step in a long and fragile process aimed at winding down the 15-month war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military the Gaza ceasefire “will not begin until Israel has in its possession the list of hostages to be freed”.

In a full statement, his office said: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security assessment overnight regarding the delay in receiving the list of hostages who are expected to be released.

“The Prime Minister directed the IDF that the ceasefire, which is due to take effect at 8:30am (6.30 GMT), will not begin as long as Israel does not have the list of hostages who are to be released, which Hamas has committed to provide.”

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.

Israel said Sunday it has recovered the remains of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war, hours before a ceasefire and hostage release were set to begin.

Oron Shaul was killed in the previous conflict and his remains have been held by Hamas. 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.

The families fought to have the bodies returned as part of any ceasefire deal in the current war.