Release of Hostages and Detainees Under Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Delayed by 24 Hours

JAKARTA - The release of hostages and detainees under the temporary Hamas-Israel ceasefire will not occur before Friday, Israel's national security adviser said on Wednesday evening local time.

Israel and Hamas agreed early Wednesday to release at least 50 hostages, while Israel freed 150 Palestinian prisoners. The process was carried out in stages over four days, with a ceasefire in place during the process.

The timing of the start of the ceasefire and the release of hostages captured by Hamas has not been officially announced. An Egyptian security source said the mediator asked for a start time of 10 a.m. on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Israeli public broadcaster Kan, citing an Israeli official, reported that there was a 24-hour delay in implementing the release, because the agreement had not been signed by Hamas and Qatari mediators. The officials said they were optimistic the agreement would be implemented when it was signed.

"Negotiations for the release of our captives are progressing and continuing," said Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi in a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's office, reported by Reuters, November 23.

"The start of the release will be carried out according to the initial agreement between the parties, and not before Friday," continued Hanegbi.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no mention of potential delays to the agreement's implementation in a news conference on Wednesday evening. Hanegbi's statement was released about an hour after the press conference.

The first ceasefire in the nearly seven-week war, reached after mediation by Qatar, was hailed around the world as a sign of progress that could ease the suffering of civilians in Israel's besieged Gaza and repatriate more Israeli prisoners.

Arab ministers praised the agreement, but said it should be the first step towards a full ceasefire.

Israel itself has said the ceasefire could be extended if more hostages are freed, and Palestinian sources say as many as 100 hostages in total could be freed by the end of this month.

It is known that Hamas and its allied groups took around 240 hostages when the militant group attacked southern Israeli cities on October 7. Previously, Hamas only released four hostages.

Both Israel and Hamas said that even though there was a ceasefire, they remained on alert to anticipate all possibilities.