Delay in Ceasefire Start; Netanyahu: Ceasefire Will Not Begin Until Hamas Announces Hostage List

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the ceasefire in Gaza, which was supposed to start at 06:30 GMT on Sunday, January 30, will not commence until the Palestinian militant group Hamas provides a list of hostages to be released. According to Reuters, Netanyahu's statement was made an hour before the deadline set for the ceasefire. It was expected that hostages would be freed within hours after the ceasefire began, which could pave the way for a possible end to the 15-month war that has transformed the Middle East. Netanyahu's office stated on Sunday: "The Prime Minister instructed the Israel Defense Forces that the ceasefire, which is supposed to be implemented at 08:30 AM, will not begin until Israel receives the list of hostages that Hamas has committed to provide." Hamas emphasized its commitment to the Gaza ceasefire agreement on Sunday and attributed the delay in announcing the names of the hostages to be freed in the first phase to "field technical reasons." Pro-Hamas media reported that Israeli forces withdrew early Sunday from the Rafah area in Gaza towards the Philadelphia crossing at the border between Egypt and Gaza. The Israeli army warned Gaza residents not to approach its forces or move in Palestinian areas before the ceasefire deadline, adding that when movement is permitted, "a statement with instructions for safe passage will be issued." The ceasefire agreement was reached after months of scattered negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, concluding just before the inauguration of the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. This ceasefire agreement is set to begin in three phases starting at 06:30 AM GMT on Sunday. In the first phase, lasting six weeks, 33 hostages including women, children, individuals over 50, the sick, and the injured will be freed. This release will be in exchange for the release of about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. On Sunday, three female hostages will be released through the Red Cross, with 30 prisoners released for each. In the first phase, the Israeli army will withdraw from some positions in Gaza, and displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza will be allowed to return. The future situation in Gaza after the war remains uncertain, and its reconstruction will require billions of dollars and years of time. Israel has emphasized that it will not allow Hamas to return to power and has cleared large areas of Gaza to create a buffer zone against threats. Within Israel, the return of hostages may alleviate some public anger towards Netanyahu's government, but pressure from his right-wing allies to continue the war persists. The Gaza war has caused shock in the region and has led to direct conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Iranian government. Hezbollah and the Iranian Islamic Republic's resistance axis have suffered heavy losses, and their military infrastructure has been severely damaged. The war began in response to Hamas's attack on October 7, 2022, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken. This 15-month war has led to the deaths of 47,000 Palestinians and widespread destruction in Gaza. In exchange for the release of about 100 of its hostages, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners. Netanyahu reiterated the destruction of Hamas and the return of all hostages, stating: "We will not cease our efforts until the last hostage returns."