Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Gaza ceasefire, scheduled for 6:30 GMT on Sunday, will not begin until Hamas provides a list of hostages to be released. This announcement came just one hour before the ceasefire deadline. Initially, the release of hostages was expected to follow shortly after the ceasefire started, potentially signaling the end of a 15-month war in the Middle East.

Netanyahu's Instructions

"The prime minister instructed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) that the ceasefire, which is supposed to go into effect at 8:30 a.m., will not begin until Israel has the list of released abductees that Hamas has pledged to provide," his office said.

Hamas Cites Technical Reasons

Meanwhile, Hamas confirmed its commitment to the ceasefire but explained that technical issues caused the delay in releasing the hostage list. Earlier on Sunday, pro-Hamas media reported that Israeli forces were withdrawing from Gaza’s Rafah area to the Philadelphi corridor near the Egypt-Gaza border.

Warnings to Gaza Residents

In the meantime, the Israeli military warned Gaza residents to avoid its troops and remain in place before the ceasefire. They promised to provide instructions on safe travel methods once movement is allowed.

Ceasefire Agreement Details

The ceasefire agreement, which is the result of months of negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, comes just ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's January 20 inauguration. The ceasefire will unfold in three stages, beginning at 6:30 GMT on Sunday. In the first stage, which will last six weeks, 33 of the 98 remaining hostages will be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Initial Hostage Release

On Sunday afternoon, three female hostages will be released through the Red Cross in exchange for 30 prisoners each. According to U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk, four more female hostages will be released after seven days, followed by three hostages every week.

Israeli Army Pullback

During this phase, the Israeli army will pull back from some positions in Gaza. Consequently, Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza will be allowed to return to their homes.

U.S. Involvement

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden’s team worked closely with Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to finalize the deal. Trump insisted on a swift agreement, warning of severe consequences if the hostages were not released.

Uncertain Future for Gaza

However, the future of Gaza remains uncertain without a comprehensive rebuilding plan. Although the ceasefire aims to end the war, it could still collapse. Hamas, despite suffering losses, continues to control Gaza. Therefore, Israel has vowed not to allow Hamas to regain power and has cleared large areas within Gaza to create a buffer zone.

Domestic and International Pressures

In Israel, the return of hostages might ease public anger against Netanyahu over the October 7 security breach. However, some hardliners have threatened to resign if the war against Hamas doesn't resume. Internationally, Israel faces criticism for the destruction in Gaza. Additionally, Netanyahu could face arrest warrants for war crimes, charges Israel dismisses as politically motivated.

War’s Impact

The war began with Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. So far, over 400 Israeli soldiers have died in Gaza, and the Israeli campaign has led to nearly 47,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's health ministry. Although most casualties are civilians, Israel claims many are fighters.