Netanyahu says ceasefire ‘will not begin’ without list of hostages

Demonstrators light flares as they gather during a protest calling for the release of all hostages held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday (Oded Balilty/AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early on Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza will not begin until Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released from Hamas.

Barely an hour before the ceasefire was due to begin at 8.30am local time, Mr Netanyahu said he had instructed the military that the ceasefire “will not begin until Israel has in its possession the list of hostages to be freed, which Hamas committed to provide”.