Alsharq Tribune- Mohamed Otaify
The beginning of a newly brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip set for 8:30 am (0630 GMT) has been delayed with Hamas still to provide the names of hostages to be released, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Sunday. Following months of stalemate in the 15-month-long Gaza war, a three-stage ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian extremist group Hamas was brokered earlier this week.
In an initial six-week phase set to begin on Sunday, 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza are set to be released in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, while the Israeli army gradually begins to withdraw from parts of the Gaza Strip
However, Hamas has so far not released the names of the three hostages set to be released first under the agreement, Hagari said on Sunday morning.
"Hamas is not fulfilling its obligations," he said, adding that the Israeli military would continue its attacks in Gaza until the militants adhered to the agreement.
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