Hamas Names Hostages It Plans To Release Sunday, Potentially Clearing The Way For Gaza Truce | rssama.com

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Hamas militant group has named nan 3 hostages it plans to merchandise connected Sunday, perchance clearing nan measurement for nan commencement of a Gaza ceasefire aft a delay.

Israel had earlier said it would proceed fighting successful Gaza until nan names were handed complete successful accordance pinch nan agreement. The commencement of nan ceasefire has been delayed by much than 2 hours.

There was nary contiguous remark from Israel aft Hamas’ equipped helping published nan names connected societal media.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier communicative follows below.

The deadline for nan commencement of a ceasefire successful nan Gaza Strip passed arsenic Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had not lived up to its committedness to supply nan names of nan 3 hostages it was group to merchandise later connected Sunday successful speech for scores of Palestinian prisoners.

Celebrations erupted crossed nan war-ravaged territory, and immoderate Palestinians began returning to their homes, moreover arsenic nan hold underscored nan fragility of nan agreement. The woody sets successful mobility a agelong and uncertain process aimed astatine yet ending nan warfare and returning astir 100 hostages abducted successful nan Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas onslaught that triggered it.

The names of nan 3 hostages had not been handed complete erstwhile nan deadline for nan truce to statesman passed astatine 8:30 a.m. section time, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, nan apical Israeli subject spokesman, said. He said nan service “continues to attack, moreover now, wrong nan Gaza arena,” and would until Hamas complies pinch nan agreement.

The subject later said it had struck a number of militant targets successful bluish and cardinal Gaza. Gaza’s Health Ministry said astatine slightest 3 group were killed early Sunday successful Gaza City, successful nan northbound of nan territory.

Hamas blamed nan hold successful handing complete nan names connected “technical section reasons.” It said successful a connection that it is committed to nan ceasefire woody announced past week.

An Israeli charismatic said mediators person provided assurances that nan database will beryllium delivered and nan woody is still expected to spell forward, though nan timing remains successful question. The charismatic said connected information of anonymity because of nan ongoing efforts to resoluteness nan matter.

Demonstrators clasp portraits of hostages held by Hamas successful nan Gaza Strip during a protestation calling for their contiguous merchandise successful Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Oded Balilty via AP

The statement of Israel’s hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir meantime said its Cabinet ministers submitted their resignations from nan authorities connected Sunday successful guidance to nan ceasefire. The departure of nan Jewish Power statement weakens Netanyahu’s conjugation but will not impact nan ceasefire.

In a abstracted development, Israel announced that it had recovered nan assemblage of Oron Shaul, a worker who was killed successful nan 2014 Israel-Hamas war, successful a typical operation. The bodies of Shaul and different soldier, Hadar Goldin, remained successful Gaza aft nan 2014 warfare and had not been returned contempt a nationalist run by their families.

Delay underscores fragility of nan agreement

The planned ceasefire, agreed aft a twelvemonth of intensive mediation by nan United States, Qatar and Egypt, is nan first measurement successful a agelong and vulnerable process aimed astatine winding down nan 15-month war.

Netanyahu said he had instructed nan subject that nan ceasefire “will not statesman until Israel has successful its possession nan database of hostages to beryllium freed, which Hamas committed to provide.” He had issued a akin informing nan nighttime before.

The 42-day first shape of nan ceasefire should spot a full of 33 hostages returned from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees released. Israeli forces should propulsion backmost into a buffer area wrong Gaza, and galore displaced Palestinians should beryllium capable to return home. The devastated territory should besides spot a surge successful humanitarian aid.

This is conscionable nan 2nd ceasefire successful nan war, longer and much consequential than nan weeklong region complete a twelvemonth ago, pinch nan imaginable to extremity nan fighting for good.

Negotiations connected nan acold much difficult 2nd shape of this ceasefire should statesman successful conscionable complete 2 weeks. Major questions remain, including whether nan warfare will resume aft nan six-week first shape and really nan remainder of nan astir 100 hostages successful Gaza will beryllium freed.

Palestinians observe contempt delay

Dozens of group took to nan streets successful Gaza’s confederate metropolis of Khan Younis to observe nan ceasefire, according to an Associated Press reporter. Four masked and equipped Hamas fighters arrived successful 2 vehicles arsenic nan celebrations were underway, pinch group welcoming them and chanting slogans successful support of nan militant group.

Gaza’s Civil Defense, first responders who run nether nan Hamas-run government, held a parade successful Gaza City, wherever nan rescuers waved a Palestinian emblem alongside different revelers, according to AP footage, which besides showed a mini group of group carrying nan flags of Islamic Jihad, nan 2nd largest militant group aft Hamas, which took portion successful nan Oct. 7 attack.

The Hamas-run constabulary began deploying successful nationalist aft mostly lying debased owed to Israeli airstrikes. Gaza City residents said they had seen them operating successful parts of nan city, and nan AP newsman successful Khan Younis saw a mini number retired connected nan streets.

Palestinian residents began returning to their homes successful parts of Gaza City early Sunday, moreover arsenic vessel shelling continued to nan east, person to nan Israeli border, overnight. Families could beryllium seen making their measurement backmost connected foot, pinch their belongings loaded connected donkey carts, residents said.

“The sound of shelling and explosions didn’t stop,” said Ahmed Matter, a Gaza City resident. He said he saw galore families leaving their shelters and returning to their homes. “People are impatient. They want this madness to end,” he said.

Palestinians build a shelter astatine nan Mawasi campy successful Khan Younis, cardinal Gaza Strip, Saturday Jan. 18, 2025.(AP Photo/(AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Jehad Alshrafi via AP

Palestinians locomotion on a thoroughfare marketplace successful Khan Younis, cardinal Gaza Strip, Saturday Jan. 18, 2025.(AP Photo/(AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Jehad Alshrafi via AP

Israel’s Cabinet approved nan ceasefire early Saturday successful a uncommon convention during nan Jewish Sabbath, much than 2 days aft mediators announced nan deal. The warring sides were nether unit from some nan outgoing Biden management and President-elect Donald Trump to execute a woody earlier nan U.S. statesmanlike inauguration connected Monday.

Over 46,000 Palestinians person been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israel that sparked nan warfare killed complete 1,200. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers person died.

Some 90% of Gaza’s organization has been displaced. The United Nations says nan wellness system, roadworthy web and different captious infrastructure person been severely damaged. Rebuilding – if nan ceasefire reaches its last shape – will return respective years astatine least. Major questions astir Gaza’s future, governmental and otherwise, stay unresolved.

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Magdy reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press reporters Josef Federman successful Jerusalem and Mohammad Jahjouh successful Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.

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