Israel suspends start of ceasefire upon receipt of list of hostages released during the day, Hamas cites “technical” difficulties

This is the moment of truth in Gaza. The truce in the war between Israel and Hamas must come into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (7:30 a.m. in Paris), Sunday January 19, after 15 months of a devastating war which left tens of thousands dead, mainly in the Palestinian territory. . But the Israeli Prime Minister set one last condition: having previously received the list of released hostages. Hamas acknowledged delay and cited difficulties “techniques”.

The first phase of the agreement concluded between the belligerents provides for a cessation of hostilities, as well as the release spread over a period of six weeks of 33 hostages held in Gaza and nearly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Follow our live stream.

A temporary and fragile ceasefire. Benyamin Netanyahu claimed it on Friday: Israel reserves “the right to resume the war” against Hamas at any time “with the support of the United States”. “This is a temporary ceasefire”he insisted in a televised speech, threatening to retaliate “with more force” in the event of a resumption of hostilities.

Israeli women released first? The releases of hostages will begin on Sunday, the Israeli government announced, without specifying their number or the time of the operation. According to a military official, three reception points have been set up on Israel’s border with Gaza, from where captives will be treated by doctors and then taken to hospitals. According to sources close to Hamas, the first group of hostages released will be made up of three Israeli women.

Nearly a hundred Palestinians released on Sunday? The Israeli Justice Ministry designated 95 Palestinian detainees for release on the first day of the truce. The majority of them are women and minors, most of them arrested after October 7, who will be able to find their freedom after 4 p.m. (3 p.m. in Paris). According to the ministry, the youngest on this first list is 16 years old.

Gazans wait to return home. In the Gaza Strip, ravaged by the Israeli army, the vast majority of the approximately 2.4 million inhabitants have become displaced over the course of the conflict. “Everyone is getting ready to go home.”assured one of them, Youssef, to franceinfo, while recognizing his “afraid to go” et “to see the rubble” from his home in Gaza City.