Live Update
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, January 18, 2025
Netanyahu: Israel ‘won’t move forward’ with ceasefire until Hamas names first hostages to be freed
Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
Hours before a ceasefire deal is slated to go into effect, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has still not received a list of the names of the hostages Hamas is slated to release, which could hold up the agreement.
“We will not move forward with the outline until we receive a list of the hostages to be freed, as agreed,” Netanyahu says in a statement released by his office. “Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. The sole responsibility lies with Hamas.”
The agreement states that Hamas is required to provide the names of the hostages at least 24 hours ahead of their release — which was supposed to be 4 p.m. local time.