Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that progress on the agreed framework could not proceed without receiving a list of hostages Hamas agreed to release.
Netanyahu emphasized on X in Hebrew, “We will be unable to move forward with the framework until we receive the list of hostages who will be released, as was agreed. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. Hamas is solely responsible.”
In his televised address, he also stated Israel’s reservation of the right to resume military actions if necessary, with the backing of the United States, ensuring the return of all hostages to Israel.
Netanyahu highlighted, “We reserve the right to resume the war if necessary, with American support.” He claimed that since the war began, Israel had “changed the face of the Middle East.”
Out of 251 hostages, 94 remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military has declared deceased.
On Saturday, an Israeli strike in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis killed at least five family members, as reported by Gaza’s Civil Defence Rescue Agency. Additionally, following air raid sirens in Jerusalem, the military reported that Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have declared their support for the Palestinians, launched a projectile from Yemen.
This conflict, spanning over 15 months between Hamas and Israel, previously saw only one other truce in November 2023, which similarly involved an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
As part of the truce’s initial phase, Israel’s justice ministry announced the release of 737 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, none before 4 pm on Sunday.
Read: Israel to Release 737 Detainees in First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Deal
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani described the truce as beginning a 42-day ceasefire during which militants in Gaza would release 33 hostages. He expressed frustration with the prolonged negotiations, stating that the recently signed framework matched one agreed upon last December, leading to “13 months of a waste of negotiating details.”
