Israel: Netanyahu wants “the list” of hostages who can be released

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded Saturday evening to receive the list of hostages to be released on Sunday before he can proceed with 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,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement released before a speech to the nation scheduled for 8:10 p.m. (7:10 p.m. in Switzerland).

Questioned by AFP, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister specified that the list in question was that of hostages to be released on Sunday.

According to information communicated by the two parties, the first exchange of prisoners should not take place before 2:30 p.m. GMT on Sunday (3:30 p.m. in Switzerland), or six hours after the truce comes into force. “We will not tolerate any violation of the terms of the agreement,” Mr. Netanyahu’s statement added.

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, 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.

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