Gaza hostage release will not start before Nov 24, Israel says
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GAZA/JERUSALEM – The release of hostages under a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas will not happen before Nov 24, Israel's National Security Adviser said.
It dashed hopes of relatives that some would be freed on Nov 23.
Israel and Hamas agreed early on Nov 22 to a ceasefire in Gaza
It is to let in aid and free at least 50 hostages held by the armed group in the Palestinian enclave in exchange for at least 150 Palestinians jailed in Israel.
The starting time of the truce and release of hostages captured by Hamas during its Oct 7 attack on Israel
An Egyptian security source said mediators sought a start time of 10am local time on Nov 23.
Speaking on the morning of Nov 23, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari said an announcement on the beginning of the truce could come in the next few hours. Qatar has been mediating in the negotiations on the truce.
National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office: “Negotiations for the release of our captives are progressing and continue all the time.
“The start of the release will proceed according to the original agreement between the parties, and not before Friday.”
White House spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said final logistical details for the release were being worked out.
“That is on track, and we are hopeful that implementation will begin on Friday morning,” Ms Watson said.
But reports said that there was no let-up in the fighting early on Nov 23.
Palestinian media said Israeli aircraft and artillery struck Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis in at least two waves, and 15 people were killed. Attacks were also reported in several other parts of Gaza, including the Jabalia and Nuseirat camps.
There was no immediate comment from Israel and Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports.
In Israel, sirens warning of incoming rocket fire from Gaza blared in communities near the border with the enclave, the military said. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
Israel's public broadcaster Kan, citing an Israeli official, reported that there was a 24-hour delay in the agreement because the deal was not signed by Hamas and Qatar.
The official said they were optimistic the agreement will be implemented when it is signed.
Kan quoted a source in the Israeli Prime Minister’s office as saying: “No one said there would be a release tomorrow except the media… We had to make it clear that no release is planned before Friday, because of the uncertainty that hostages’ families are facing.”
Israeli media, citing anonymous officials, reported the pause in fighting with Hamas also would not start before Nov 24. Israel’s Ynet news website reported that Israel had not yet received the names of the hostages slated for release by Hamas.
Hamas and allied groups killed some 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages when gunmen rampaged through southern Israeli towns on Oct 7.
Since then, Israel has subjected Hamas-ruled Gaza to a siege and relentless bombardment.
‘Need to know they are alive’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no mention of a potential delay in implementation of the agreement during a press conference late on Nov 22.
Mr Hanegbi’s statement was released about an hour after the press conference.
Said Mr Gilad Korngold, who drew just a measure of comfort from the deal between Israel and Hamas: “We need to know they are alive, if they’re okay. It’s the minimum.”
Seven of his family members, including his three-year-old granddaughter, were taken hostage.
“I want everybody back,” he said. “But I think – and it’s a very tough decision – but I think the children and women must be (first). They’re the most fragile. You know, they need to get out.”
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the United States also hoped that hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks would reach Gaza in the next few days.
Mr Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Nov 21 that the 50 hostages would be released over four days at a rate of at least 10 daily.
The truce could be extended day by day as long as an additional 10 hostages were freed per day, it said.
Israel's Justice Ministry published a list of 300 names of Palestinian prisoners who could be freed.
Hamas said the initial 50 hostages would be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children imprisoned in Israel.
Hundreds of trucks of humanitarian, medical and fuel supplies would enter Gaza, while Israel would halt all air sorties over southern Gaza and maintain a daily six-hour daytime no-fly window in the north, Hamas said.
Staggered release of hostages
The accord was the first truce in a near seven-week-old war.
It was reached after mediation by Qatar, and was hailed around the world as a sign of progress that could ease the suffering of civilians in Israel-besieged Gaza.
Arab ministers praised the agreement but said it should become a first step towards a full ceasefire.
Israel said the ceasefire could be extended further if more hostages were freed, and a Palestinian source said as many as 100 hostages in total could be released by the end of November.
Mr Kirby said: “It’s not going to get all the hostages out, but it does get these first 50 or so, all women and children… We’ll start to see them come start to get released over the next 24 hours or so.”
US President Joe Biden said in a comment on the deal on X, formerly Twitter: “Now, it’s important that all aspects are fully implemented.”
Qatar’s chief negotiator in the ceasefire talks, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, told Reuters the truce meant there would be “no attack whatsoever”.
“No military movements, no expansion, nothing,” he said.
Arab foreign ministers, visiting Britain and France for talks on Nov 22, said the agreement should be extended.
“Whatever humanitarian access now increases as a result of this hostage deal must remain in place and must be built upon,” said Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, in London alongside his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts.
They are leading a so-called contact group of mostly Muslim countries that are lobbying Israel's major allies and the UN Security Council to bring about an end to the Gaza war and move towards a permanent solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
"That has to be a plan with an endgame, with timelines, with a mechanism for implementation, with guarantees, and the whole world has to be behind it and the US will have to play a leading role," Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.
Both Israel and Hamas said the pause in hostilities would not halt their broader missions.
Mr Netanyahu said at the press conference on Nov 22: “We are winning, and we will continue to fight until a complete victory.”
Hamas said in its statement: "As we announce the striking of a truce agreement, we affirm that our fingers remain on the trigger, and our victorious fighters will remain on the look-out to defend our people and defeat the occupation."
Meanwhile, Ms Catherine Russell, head of the UN children’s agency Unicef, told the United Nations Security Council on Nov 22 that Gaza is the “most dangerous place in the world to be a child”.
More than 5,300 Palestinian children have reportedly been killed since Oct 7, Ms Russell said.
“The true cost of this latest war in Palestine and Israel will be measured in children’s lives – those lost to the violence and those forever changed by it. Without an end to the fighting and full humanitarian access, the cost will continue to grow exponentially,” Ms Russell said. REUTERS
