Temporary cease-fire in Gaza and hostage release now expected to start Friday

A deal to bring about a four-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages held by militants and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel appears to have hit a last-minute roadblock. A senior Israeli official said that it will only come into effect on Friday, a day later than originally announced. This was reported by AP, UNN wrote.

Details

Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi announced the delay late Wednesday night without giving any reasons. According to Majed al-Ansari, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesman who has played a key role in mediating with Hamas, negotiators were still "working to create the right conditions" for a ceasefire and exchange.

The Gulf state said early Thursday morning that a new time for the agreement to take effect would be announced "in the near future." It was originally scheduled to begin Thursday morning. The United States and Egypt also helped broker the deal.

Addendum

Meanwhile, the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip resumed a detailed count of Palestinian casualties from the war, saying more than 13,300 people had died.