Fighting continued in the Gaza strip this morning, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire would not begin until the terrorist organisation provides Israel with the names of the three hostages set to be freed later in the day.
A statement from the IDF issued on Sunday morning said: “The IDF is continuing to operate and strike terrorist targets in Gaza. A short while ago, IDF artillery and aircraft struck a number of terrorist targets in northern and central Gaza. The IDF remains ready in offence and defence and will not allow any harm to the citizens of Israel.”
Netanyahu held a security assessment overnight “regarding the delay in receiving the list of hostages expected to be released,” according to a statement from his office.
Hamas attributed the delay to “technical reasons,” reiterating “its commitment to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.”
The deal stipulates that Hamas must provide the names of the hostages at least 24 hours ahead of their release, with the first three captives expected to be freed at 4pm local time (2pm GMT).
The Israeli Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement early on Saturday following seven hours of deliberation. Twenty-four ministers voted for the agreement and eight voted against, with one absenting himself from the vote.
Israeli forces “have been preparing to receive the hostages after their release from Hamas captivity and is operating to provide suitable physical and psychological support, with careful attention to every detail,” according to a statement from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit on Saturday.
“Alongside the agreement and our commitment to bringing home all the hostages, the IDF will continue to operate in order to ensure the security of all Israeli citizens, particularly those in communities near the Gaza Strip,” the statement continued.
The accord’s first stage was to see the phased release of 33 hostages – alive or dead – over a period of 42 days. Israel estimates that 25 of them are alive.
Three hostages are expected to be returned on Sunday and four more on the seventh day of the ceasefire.
Three hostages are set to be returned every week for the remaining four weeks, with 14 to be returned on the final, sixth week of the accord’s first stage. It is not known in what order the hostages will be released.