A spokesman for the Israeli military said today that the operation — which was scheduled to begin at 08:30 local and Greek time — will not go into effect if it does not honor its obligations to send Israel the list of the names of the hostages that will be be released.
According to him, Israel’s army is ready to implement the truce, but also ready to respond if Hamas does not comply with the terms of the agreement.
He also noted that if the Palestinian movement does not fulfill its obligations, Israel will continue its attacks.
Netanyahu’s new threat
Hamas-affiliated media reported in the early hours that Israeli troops began withdrawing from areas of Rafah, but there was no confirmation from the Israeli armed forces ().
A few hours before the start of the truce, concern was caused by statements by the Israeli prime minister that Israel has pledged to release Hamas.
At the same time, Netanyahu warned that this is a “temporary ceasefire” and that Israel reserves “the right to restart the war if necessary, with the support of the USA”.
A few hours before the truce between Hamas and Israel takes effect, Benjamin Netanyahu threatens to cancel it if he does not receive the list of the names of the hostages to be released in time.
What does Hamas answer?
Hamas on Sunday reaffirmed its commitment to the Gaza ceasefire deal, saying the delay in releasing the names of the hostages to be released in the first phase was due to “technical reasons on the ground”.
IDF: Do not go near the neutral zone – You will be in danger
Israel’s military today called on residents of the Gaza Strip to stay away from its forces and head to the neutral zone before the truce with Hamas takes effect at 08:30 (local and Greek time).
“We call on you not to head towards the buffer zone or (Israeli army) forces,” Avihai Andrai, the Israeli army’s Arabic-speaking spokesman, said in a Telegram post.
“At this stage you will be at risk if you head towards the buffer zone or if you move from the southern part (of the enclave) to the north through the Gaza Strip. Anyone who heads to these areas puts themselves at risk,” he stressed.
The vague terms of the truce
According to shortly before the change of baton at the White House, during the “first phase” which will last six weeks, hostilities in the Gaza Strip will stop and 33 Hamas hostages will be released. In exchange, Israel will release 737 Palestinian prisoners, as announced by the Israeli Ministry of Justice.
According to outgoing US President Joe Biden, during the “first phase” of the truce, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza is foreseen, as well as an increase in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave. The Egyptian authorities spoke of a “daily entry of 600 trucks with humanitarian aid”, of which 50 will carry fuel.
When does the second phase of the ceasefire begin?
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire will begin on the 16th day of the first phase and are expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Palestinian enclave.
The third phase will involve the return of all dead hostages and the start of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
The Houthi warning
Rebels today warned military forces deployed in the Red Sea that any attack on Yemen during the truce agreed between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip would have “consequences”.
The Iran-backed rebels, who control the capital Sanaa and much of Yemen, have also claimed responsibility for attacks on warships, including the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.
The Houthis “warn the enemy forces in the Red Sea about the consequences of any attack against our country during the ceasefire period in Gaza,” the Yemeni rebels said in a message shared on the X platform (formerly Twitter). They declare that “they will meet any attack with precision military operations against these forces… without red lines”.
Their leader, Abdel Malek al-Houthi, had warned on Thursday that an end to attacks against Israel would depend on Israel complying with the terms of the ceasefire.
The “first phase” of the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip will last 42 days, starting at 8:30 am on Sunday.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have been launching attacks on ships – which they believe are linked to Israel, the US and Britain – in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
