No hostage release under temporary Israel-Hamas truce before Friday, says Israeli security official

The release of hostages under a temporary truce between Hamas militants and Israel will not happen before Friday, Israel’s national security adviser said on Wednesday night.

Israel and Hamas agreed early on Wednesday to a ceasefire in Gaza for at least four days. The goal is to let in aid and free about 50 hostages held by militants in the Palestinian enclave in exchange for at least 150 Palestinians held in prisons in Israel.

The starting time of the truce and release of hostages captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel has yet to be officially announced. An Egyptian security source said mediators sought a start time of 10 a.m. local time on Thursday.

Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, citing an Israeli official, reported there was a 24-hour delay in the agreement because the deal was not signed by Hamas and mediator Qatar, which brokered the deal along with the U.S.

The official said they were optimistic the agreement will be implemented when it is signed.

“Negotiations for the release of our captives are progressing and continue all the time,” Israeli National Security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a statement released by the prime minister’s office.

“The start of the release will proceed according to the original agreement between the parties, and not before Friday,” Hanegbi added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no mention of a potential delay in implementation of the agreement during a press conference late on Wednesday. Hanegbi’s statement was released roughly an hour after the press conference.

The first truce in the near seven-week war is being hailed around the world as a sign of progress that could ease the suffering of civilians in Israel-besieged Gaza and bring more Israeli captives home. Arab ministers praised the agreement but said it should become a first step toward a full ceasefire.

Israel said the temporary 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 the month.