Israeli media reports a delay due to Hamas and Qatar not signing the agreement.
The release of hostages in the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is postponed until at least Friday, according to Sarbaz.kz citing Reuters.
This was confirmed by Israel's National Security Advisor, Zahi Hanegbi, dispelling the hopes of some relatives that their loved ones would be released on Thursday.
The official start time for the ceasefire and the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel has not yet been officially announced. Reuters reported that mediators had requested a start time at 10 AM on Thursday, according to a source in Egyptian security services.
"No one said there would be releases tomorrow, except the media… We had to make it clear that there are no plans for releases before Friday due to the uncertainty faced by the hostages' families," said a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli news site Ynet reported that Israel has not yet received the names of the hostages that Hamas plans to release.
Palestinian media reported Israeli airstrikes and artillery strikes in the southern Gaza area in at least two waves early Thursday morning. Meanwhile, in Israel, sirens blared near the enclave's border early Thursday, warning of an incoming rocket attack from Gaza, according to the military. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
To recap, Israel and Hamas agreed early Wednesday to a ceasefire in Gaza for at least four days, involving the delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of at least 50 hostages in exchange for at least 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
Fifty hostages will be released within four days, at least 10 per day, said the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was also stated that the ceasefire could be extended for a day for every additional 10 hostages released.
Israel's Ministry of Justice published a list of 300 names of Palestinian prisoners who could be released.
Hamas stated that the initial 50 hostages would be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons. Hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian, medical, and fuel supplies will enter Gaza, while Israel will cease all aerial attacks on the southern part of Gaza and maintain a daily six-hour no-fly window in the north, as stated by Hamas.
The ceasefire agreement, the first in nearly seven weeks of war, was brokered by Qatar and has been viewed by governments worldwide as potentially alleviating the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
