DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza will not begin until Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released from Hamas.
He reiterated the warning in a statement barely an hour before the ceasefire was set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time.
Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on “technical field reasons.” It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week.
___
Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Jerusalem.
___
Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy And Melanie Lidman, The Associated Press