A ceasefire deal endorsed by Israel and Hamas was delayed from going into effect Sunday after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the militant group had yet to provide the names of the hostages it planned to release under the truce agreement.
Hamas said the delay was connected to “technical field reasons,” without elaborating.
Israel’s government formally approved the ceasefire deal late Friday in a cabinet vote. The truce, if it goes ahead as planned, will mark the first halt in fighting in Gaza in more than 15 months.
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The deal was expected to unfold in three stages.
The first stage would see 33 hostages released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. During this time, Israeli troops would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza.
Negotiations for the second phase, when more hostages and prisoners will be released and the war would end, were expected to begin in early February − sixteen days after the implementation of the first stage.
The third phase involves Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of any remaining deceased hostages.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel says Gaza ceasefire delayed until Hamas releases hostage list
