‘Sole Responsibility Lies With Hamas’: Netanyahu Says Israel Won't Move Ahead With Gaza Ceasefire Until...

Israel will not proceed with the ceasefire deal until Hamas provides a list of hostages to be released, Netanyahu said. IDF is prepared for the hostages' release and has set up complexes near the Gaza border.

File Photo of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Source : PTI

As a ceasefire deal is set to take effect, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday stated that the country will not move forward with the agreement until Hamas provides a list of the hostages it is expected to release. Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas is required to provide the names of the hostages at least 24 hours prior to their release, which was initially set for 4 p.m. local time.

According to Times of Israel, Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office, “We will not move forward with the outline until we receive a list of the hostages to be freed, as agreed. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. The sole responsibility lies with Hamas.” 

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have completed preparations for the release of the hostages, who are expected to be freed from Gaza. The IDF has set up three complexes near the Gaza border—at the Re’im base, the Kerem Shalom Crossing, and the Erez Crossing—where the hostages will meet with IDF representatives, including doctors and mental health professionals. They will then be escorted to hospitals in Israel, where they will reunite with their families, Times of Israel reported.

The IDF estimates that it will take approximately two hours for the hostages to be transferred from the Red Cross to Israeli forces in Gaza, and from there to army facilities and hospitals.

IDF On High Alert As Gaza Ceasefire Set To Begin

The IDF is on high alert as the ceasefire with Hamas is set to begin. The Southern Command will redeploy troops within Gaza, withdrawing from urban areas and positioning them according to the terms agreed upon by Israel and Hamas. Despite the ceasefire, the IDF will continue to target Hamas infrastructure in Gaza until 8:30 a.m. local time, when the ceasefire takes effect. The military is also reinforcing its defences along the Gaza border and preparing for possible rocket fire from Gaza during or before the ceasefire.

If the ceasefire collapses or the second phase of the deal is not implemented after 42 days, the IDF has stated it is ready to resume fighting immediately, as per Israel’s decision.

Israeli Finance Minister Slams Gaza Ceasefire Deal As 'Terrible'

In a statement condemning the ceasefire deal, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticised the agreement, calling it “terrible.” Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, expressed his opposition to halting the war before achieving complete victory over Hamas.

According to Times of Israel, he acknowledged the return of some hostages but emphasised that the “war would not end in any way, without achieving its full goals, foremost among them the complete destruction of Hamas in Gaza.”

Smotrich, despite his opposition to the hostage agreement, confirmed that his party would remain in the government, after Netanyahu reportedly met several of his demands. He declared, “Unfortunately, we were unable to prevent this dangerous deal, but we insisted and were able to ensure, through a government decision, in the cabinet, and other ways, that the war would not end without achieving its full goals.” 

“We demanded and received a commitment to completely change the method of war,” including “through a gradual takeover of the entire Gaza Strip, the lifting of the restrictions imposed on us by the Biden administration, and full control of the Strip, so that humanitarian aid will not reach Hamas as it has been until now,” Smotrich said. He claimed, “there is no other way to achieve the goals of the war.”