Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded on Saturday evening to receive the list of hostages to be released on Sunday before being able to carry out the first exchange of prisoners under the truce agreement with Hamas. “We will not proceed with the implementation of the agreement until we have received as agreed the list of hostages who will be released”indicates Benyamin Netanyahu in a press release published before a speech to the nation announced for 8:10 p.m. (7:10 p.m. in Paris).
Questioned by AFP, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister specified that the list in question was that of hostages to be released on Sunday, not before 4:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. in Paris), according to the Israeli authorities, i.e. several hours after the truce came into force. “We will not tolerate any violation of the terms of the agreement”adds Benyamin Netanyahu’s press release.
33 Israeli hostages against 737 Palestinian prisoners
The agreement on a truce in the Gaza Strip and releases of hostages is intended to end more than 15 months of a devastating war that left tens of thousands dead in the Palestinian territory. In a first phase spread over six weeks (42 days), hostilities must cease and 33 Israeli hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip must be released in exchange for 737 Palestinian prisoners.
Initially, three Israeli women could be released on Sunday in exchange for 95 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, mainly women and minors.
