Israel’s national security adviser stated that the release of hostages under a temporary truce between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants would take place on Friday at the earliest.
Early Wednesday morning, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for at least four days to let in humanitarian aid and release at least 50 hostages in exchange for some 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
However, the timing of the ceasefire and the hostage release has yet to be officially announced. An Egyptian security source reported that mediators agreed to start at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi stated that hostage release talks “are advancing and continuing constantly.”
The start of the release will take place according to the original agreement between the sides, and not before Friday.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that the 24-hour delay occurred since the agreement had not been signed by Hamas and mediator Qatar.
“No one said there would be a release tomorrow except the media … We had to make it clear that no release is planned before Friday, because of the uncertainty that hostages’ families are facing.”
The pause in fighting with Hamas also would not begin before Friday, Israeli media reported, citing anonymous officials. Israeli news website Ynet reported that the country had not yet received the names of the hostages Hamas planned to release.
Five hostages have been returned alive since Israel was attacked by Hamas. Israel claims 1,200 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and about 240 hostages of various nationalities taken hostage by the group’s militants.
In response, Israel has subjected Hamas-controlled Gaza to siege and bombardment. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 14,000 Gazans were killed, about 40 per cent of whom were children.
Palestinian media reported that Israeli air and artillery strikes hit the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis early Thursday morning. The Red Cross would be able to visit all remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu declared.
Gaza is “the most dangerous place in the world to be a child,” Catherine Russell, head of the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF, told the UN Security Council on Wednesday. More than 5,300 Palestinian children have reportedly been killed since October 7, Russell noted.
“The true cost of this latest war in Palestine and Israel will be measured in children’s lives – those lost to the violence and those forever changed by it. Without an end to the fighting and full humanitarian access, the cost will continue to grow exponentially.”
