Netanyahu says cease-fire deal in jeopardy with minutes to go before start as Hamas still has not provided hostage list demanded by Israel

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An hour before the long-awaited cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas was set to begin, the pact was in jeopardy, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he still hasn’t received the names of the captives slated to be freed and the deal wouldn’t proceed without it.

Three female hostages were set to be released from Gaza on Sunday — with the terror group supposed to have provided their names on Saturday, according to Israeli officials.

Israeli Prime Minister gives an address from Jerusalem regarding the pending cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war on Jan. 18, 2025. GPO/AFP via Getty Images
People hold signs of hostages held in Gaza during a rally at what is known as Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel. Getty Images
A person inspects the damage a tent sustained during an Israeli airstrike. REUTERS

But early Sunday Netanyahu said Israel hadn’t gotten the names, and he “instructed the IDF that the cease-fire, which is scheduled to take effect at 8:30 a.m., will not begin until Israel has the list of hostages to be released, which Hamas has pledged to provide,” according to the Times of Israel.

Hamas claimed on Saturday that the failure to turn over the names was due to “technical reasons,” The Times of Israel reported.

The hostage exchange was expected at 4 p.m. local time — 1:30 a.m. eastern standard time.

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