British citizen Emily Damari, 28, is among three women set to be released today, as Israeli media reports the hostage names have been given to Israel.
The other two women due for release are Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.
A lawyer for the family of Damari said there has been no “independent verification” that she will be released.
Lawyer Adam Rose told Times Radio: “No we’ve not had any independent verification. I’ve seen what’s out in public, I’ve been in touch with the family, but not had specific confirmation yet no.”
This comes after Israel continued operations in Gaza, as a ceasefire that was due to begin this morning was delayed, after Hamas failed to issue the list of hostages set to be released.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that the ceasefire in Gaza is now in place at 11.15am local time (9.15am GMT).
Netanyahu issued a warning on Saturday that the deal would not go ahead without a list of the three female hostages due to be released today.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just confirmed that the ceasefire in Gaza came into place at 11:15am local time (9:15am GMT)
Reuters
He reiterated the warning this morning, an hour before the ceasefire was set to begin.
His office said: "The prime minister instructed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) that the ceasefire, which is supposed to go into effect at 8.30am, will not begin until Israel has the list of released abductees that Hamas has pledged to provide."
Hamas claimed the delay in handing the names over is due to “technical field reasons”, saying in a statement that they stay committed to the deal.
Israeli military spokespan Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the army would continue its operations inside Gaza until Hamas met the obligations of the agreement.
Israeli forces already struck targets in northern and central Gaza this morning, as the ceasefire was delayed. The Hamas-run Gaza civil defence agency has claimed eight people were killed.
Today will see the start of the first phase of a peace agreement, which was agreed on by Israel’s cabinet after hours of deliberation on Friday night.
This came after a breakthrough in negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt was confirmed on Wednesday.
Hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir along with two other ministers from his nationalist-religious party resigned from Netanyahu's cabinet over the ceasefire deal, the party confirmed Sunday.
The first stage will see 33 of the 98 hostages freed over the course of six weeks. Only half are believed to be alive.
The first stage would see 22 of the 98 hostages freed over the course of six weeks. Only half are believed to be alive
Reuters
The second phase would see the release of the remainder of the hostages, and would be negotiated during the first.
In return, between 990 and 1650 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons.
The deal would also see an increase in humanitarian aid and Israeli forces would retreat from some of their positions in Gaza.
