Ceasefire Deal Faces Challenges as Israel Awaits Hostage List from Hamas

Tel Aviv: Hours after Qatar announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast doubt on its implementation, stating that the truce cannot proceed unless Israel receives the list of hostages to be released by Hamas. The truce, brokered by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, was set to take effect at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, marking a potential pause in the 15-month-long war.

Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s position in a statement on Saturday evening, saying, “Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement.” He added that Israel retains the “right to return to fighting if needed” and claimed to have the support of former U.S. President Donald Trump on this stance.

According to the agreement, Hamas was supposed to provide the names of hostages to Qatar, who would then pass them on to Israel. The list was expected by 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, but no names had been received by the deadline. Neither Hamas nor Qatar has issued an immediate response to the delay.

Ceasefire Details

The ceasefire deal, approved by Israel’s Cabinet early Saturday, aims to release dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The truce represents the second negotiated pause in the devastating conflict, which began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. That assault resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of approximately 250 hostages.

Since then, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Nearly 100 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza.

Political Fallout in Israel

The ceasefire agreement has caused divisions within the Israeli government. Right-wing Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced on Saturday that he and most of his party members would resign in opposition to the deal. Ben-Gvir’s resignation, which he plans to formally submit on Sunday morning, will not immediately topple Netanyahu’s government or derail the ceasefire. However, it adds instability to the coalition at a critical juncture.

Political analysts suggest that if other key allies of Netanyahu follow Ben-Gvir’s lead, the government could face a collapse in the coming weeks.

Uncertainty Ahead

The delay in receiving the hostage list and internal political tensions in Israel cast uncertainty over the implementation of the ceasefire. As the clock ticks closer to the planned truce, the international community is watching closely to see if the agreement can hold and bring a temporary reprieve to a conflict that has caused immense suffering on both sides.