The start of a new ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip scheduled for 8:30 am (0630 GMT) has been delayed as Hamas is yet to provide the names of hostages to be released, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Sunday.
After 15 months of intense fighting in Gaza, a three-step ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian extremist group, Hamas, was established earlier this week.
In the first six-week phase starting Sunday, 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, while Israeli forces begin to gradually withdraw from parts of the Gaza Strip.
However, Hamas has so far not released the names of the three hostages who must be released first under the agreement, Hagari said Sunday morning.
“Hamas is not fulfilling its obligations,” he said, adding that Israeli forces will continue to attack Gaza until the terrorists comply with the agreement.
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