Israel raises concerns over ceasefire, creating uncertainty about the agreement's success in ending the violence in Gaza.

The much-awaited hostage swap between Israel and Hamas has hit a snag, causing uncertainty about the ceasefire in Gaza. According to Israel, the fighting will not stop until Hamas hands over a list of hostages to be released. This announcement comes after Sunday morning, which was supposed to mark a pause in the violence after 15 months of relentless Israeli bombings that have left thousands of Palestinians dead and their homes reduced to rubble.

Despite the initial optimism that followed the agreement between Israel and Hamas on Friday, the streets of Gaza were filled with jubilant Palestinians celebrating the prospect of peace. Many had already started returning to their homes, even though 90% of the population had been displaced. The terms of the deal were that Hamas would release three hostages who were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, while Israel would free Palestinian prisoners in return. Both sides would then halt the bombings, and negotiations would begin for a period of 42 days.

However, as the scheduled 8:30 am start time came and went, the fighting continued without any signs of slowing down. Just an hour before, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made it clear that the ceasefire would not be implemented until they received the promised list of hostages from Hamas. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the military's chief spokesman, also confirmed that the army was still attacking Gaza and would continue to do so until the list was delivered.

In response, Hamas has cited "technical field reasons" for the delay and has assured that they remain committed to the ceasefire deal. It seems that both sides are now at a standstill, with Hamas unable to fulfill their end of the agreement and Israel refusing to back down until their demands are met. As the situation remains tense and uncertain, the people of Gaza can only hope for a swift resolution to this latest setback in their quest for peace.

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