Israel Delays Gaza Hostage Release Until Friday; Breakthrough Deal Faces Unexpected Setback

In a surprising turn of events, Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, has announced that the much-anticipated release of hostages as part of a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas will not commence before Friday. This announcement dashes hopes of an immediate breakthrough deal, putting a temporary halt to the seven-week-long conflict that has left the region in turmoil.

The truce, proposed to last for at least four days, aimed to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and the release of at least 50 hostages held in Gaza, in exchange for approximately 150 Palestinians currently detained in Israel. While the official announcement of the truce and hostage release had not been made, some agencies had speculated that the process could begin as early as 10 am on Thursday.

Hanegbi’s statement emphasized that negotiations for the release of hostages were ongoing, and the commencement of the release would adhere to the original agreement, with no action expected before Friday. However, the Israeli media reported a 24-hour delay due to the agreement not being signed by Hamas and the mediator, Qatar.

Despite the setback, Israeli officials remain optimistic, asserting that the delay is procedural and that the agreement will proceed as planned once signed. An unnamed source from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office clarified, “No one said there would be a release tomorrow except the media… We had to make it clear that no release is planned before Friday because of the uncertainty that hostages’ families are facing.”

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which caught the government off guard, the conflict has resulted in the recovery of five hostages. Israel reports approximately 1,200 casualties, mostly civilians, and around 240 hostages of different nationalities held by Islamist gunmen. In response, Israel imposed a siege and initiated relentless bombardment on Hamas-ruled Gaza, resulting in over 14,000 Gazan casualties, with approximately 40% being children.

Hanegbi’s statement followed a late-night press conference by Prime Minister Netanyahu, where he made no mention of a potential delay. Netanyahu did, however, announce that the Red Cross would be granted access to visit any remaining hostages in Gaza, underscoring the need to confirm their well-being.

The truce agreement, if implemented, would see the release of 50 hostages over four days, with at least 10 hostages released daily. Israel’s justice ministry published a list of 300 names of Palestinian prisoners who could potentially be freed. Hamas, on the other hand, indicated that the initial release of 50 hostages would be in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children currently imprisoned in Israel.

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