Hostage Release Delayed Because Hamas Has Not Signed Deal

 

 According to a report, the reason for the delay of the hostage release is because Hamas has not officially signed the agreement. In addition, the terror group has not been forthcoming about information critical to the arrangement.

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday night reported that while Hamas provided the names, genders and nationalities of most of the 50 hostages it is expected to release in the first phase, there was missing information about the fate of some of them.

In addition, Hamas has not yet signed the mechanism that would allow the release of the hostages.

An Israeli official reportedly told Kan 11 News that there is a 24-hour delay in the agreement’s execution, because it has not been signed by Hamas and Qatar.

“The Qataris informed us around 11:00 p.m. that Hamas has not yet signed the agreement and therefore there will be a delay in its implementation. We are optimistic that the plan will be implemented when the agreement is signed,” the official said.

Egyptian officials, who are in contact with Hamas leadership in Gaza, said they informed Qatar of the delay..

According to Arutz Sheva, an Israeli official who discussed the details of the planned release said that in the first phase at least, families of the hostages will not receive advance notice of the release of their loved ones.

“We don’t want to inform the families beforehand because we don’t trust Hamas. To cause distress to the family would be the worst thing. As soon as the people are in our hands, we will inform the families and bring them to the meeting point at the hospital. The first day will be a model for us regarding how to proceed,” he said.