JERUSALEM, (AFP) – Apartheid state Israel said a four-day Gaza truce and hostage release will not start until at least Friday, stalling a breakthrough deal to pause fighting that has entered its 47th day since October 7.
Israel’s national security adviser said that the release of at least 50 Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas was still on track, but would not happen on Thursday as expected.
“The contacts on the release of our hostages are advancing and continuing constantly,” a statement said.
“The start of the release will take place according to the original agreement between the sides, and not before Friday.”
A second Israeli official said that a temporary halt in fighting would also not begin on Thursday.
The complex and carefully choreographed deal saw the agreement of a four-day truce, during which at least 50 hostages taken by Hamas would be released.
For every 10 additional hostages released, there would be an extra day’s “pause” in fighting, an Israeli government document said.
In turn, Israel would release at least 150 Palestinian women and children and allow more humanitarian aid into the besieged coastal territory after weeks of bombardment and heavy fighting.
It was not immediately clear what caused the delay, which came after weeks of talks involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said Thursday that implementation of the accord “continues and is going positively.”
“The truce agreement that was reached will be concluded in the coming hours,” he said.
