Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has issued a stern warning that Israel “will not relent until all hostages are released” by Hamas.
In a video statement on Saturday, Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s right to resume military action in Gaza with U.S. backing if the second phase of the ceasefire proves ineffective. “If we must return to fighting, we will do that in new, forceful ways,” he said.
Netanyahu also pointed out that President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have fully supported Israel’s decision to return to combat if ongoing negotiations fail.
Earlier, Netanyahu set a condition for the continuation of the ceasefire, demanding that Israel receive the list of hostages to be released from Gaza, as previously agreed. The list was expected by 4 pm local time on Saturday.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement, with Hamas tasked with submitting the names to mediator Qatar.
No immediate response was received from either Qatar or Hamas regarding the matter.
The ceasefire, which will take effect less than 24 hours later, is a significant development in the conflict.
Qatar’s foreign minister, Majid al-Ansari, confirmed the ceasefire will begin at 8:30 am local time on Sunday, urging caution and official guidance from authorities.
On Saturday morning, Israel’s cabinet approved the ceasefire deal, which aims to release dozens of hostages and pause the 15-month war with Hamas.
The agreement stipulates the release of 33 hostages over the next six weeks in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
A second phase will negotiate the release of the remaining captives, including male soldiers.
Hamas has stipulated that the remaining hostages will only be freed if a lasting ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal are achieved. A key uncertainty surrounding the truce is the identification of the 33 hostages set for release, with questions surrounding their current status and whether they are still alive.
Under the deal, Hamas will free three female hostages on day one, four on day seven, and the remaining 26 over the following weeks.
Palestinian detainees will also be released. Israel’s Ministry of Justice published a list of over 700 individuals who will be freed in the first phase, focusing on young or female detainees.
The ceasefire is expected to bring an influx of humanitarian aid to Gaza, with trucks lined up at the Rafah border crossing from Egypt. The war, which began with Hamas’s attack on October 7th, 2023, has resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of approximately 250 hostages.
In response, Israel’s military offensive has led to more than 46,000 Palestinian casualties, with a large portion of the dead being women and children, according to local health officials.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the challenges in distributing aid once the ceasefire begins. He warned of looting gangs targeting convoys and the degradation of Gaza’s infrastructure.
Guterres confirmed that Israel would not impede the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the UN, its partners, and other initiatives would coordinate the distribution. “Israel is obliged not to create any obstacles,” Guterres said.
The Gaza ceasefire represents a fragile step toward peace, but key obstacles remain in the way of a lasting resolution.
