A Palestinian official told AFP on Thursday that the Gaza ceasefire, which was due to take effect on Thursday, had been postponed due to “last-minute” discussions over the “names of the Israeli hostages” and the conditions of their release.
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“Qatar, in coordination with the Egyptians and the Americans, should announce the start of the ceasefire today in the coming hours,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
On Wednesday, he said, “there was an exchange of lists of names of prisoners from both camps through Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries.”
The principle discussed in recent days remains unchanged: “Hamas will release 10 female and child hostages – under the age of 19 – and at the same time 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released and the agreement will continue as such.”
All of this comes against the backdrop of a cessation of fighting across the Gaza Strip and limited Israeli aircraft overflights in the north, he explained.
No statement was made from the Israeli side on Thursday, preventing the implementation of the agreement.
But according to this Palestinian official close to the negotiations, “the delay is explained by last-minute details about the names of the Israeli hostages and the terms of their handover.”
Initially, it was proposed that they be entrusted to the Red Cross “to take them to Egypt” on the Gaza border before handing them over “to the Israeli side,” he said.
“It was then proposed to first conduct a medical visit by Red Cross executives to ensure the health status of the hostages, and a corresponding visit to the other civilian hostages so that they can ensure their health status,” he added.
“Hamas is ready to comply with all agreed mechanisms. He will apply whoever is selected,” this official further assured.
“The Qatari, Egyptian and American mediators will monitor the implementation of this agreement and identify any violations. They are the guarantors of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the talks to achieve it.”
For his part, a senior Hamas official contacted by AFP by telephone noted that there were “obstacles related to the complication of the situation on the ground” and said he hoped that “no mistake would have a negative impact or torpedo the ceasefire.” “.
Despite everything, he added, “mediators continue to oscillate between the two camps and the atmosphere is still constructive.”
Qatar said on Thursday that those negotiations were continuing “positively” and that the ceasefire agreement would be “implemented in the coming hours.”