Cairo, Jan 18: The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), mediator Qatar announced on Saturday, as families of hostages held in Gaza braced for news of loved ones, Palestinians prepared to receive freed detainees and humanitarian groups rushed to set up a surge of aid.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later warned that a ceasefire won’t go forward unless Israel receives the names of hostages to be released, as had been agreed.
His statement came almost three hours after Israel had expected to receive the names, which Hamas was to give to mediator Qatar. There was no immediate response from Hamas or Qatar.
The overnight approval of the ceasefire deal by Israel’s Cabinet, in a rare meeting during the Jewish Sabbath, set off a flurry of activity and a fresh wave of emotions as relatives wondered whether hostages would be returned alive or dead. (AP)
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