Netanyahu warns of further fighting ahead of ceasefire

Long-awaited deal to end 15-month Gaza war on knife edge

- BEL TREW

Relatives of hostages set to be freed in today’s ceasefire say they do not know whether to prepare for “a festival or a funeral” as tensions between both sides soared just hours before the deal was slated to begin.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a fresh warning last night, saying his government was “unable to move forward with the framework” of the deal, sparking further concerns about the fragile agreement. He said Israel had yet to receive the list of the hostages who will be released, as was agreed.

“Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. Hamas is solely responsible,” he said, before threatening a continuation of hostilities. “We are holding onto some significant assets to ensure the return of all the hostages fighting. We withhold the right to resume fighting if the second stage seems pointless.

“If we resume combat we will do it in new ways and in tremendous force. Hamas tried to dictate to us but I adamantly objected. We retain the right to resume the war if we are not satisfied with the backing of the US.”

Israeli warplanes and tanks pounded the Gaza Strip in the hours leading up to the truce, hitting 50 “targets” since Friday, the Israeli military said. Israeli tanks shelled Gaza City, and airstrikes hit central and southern Gaza, including displaced people in tents in the so-called humanitarian zone of the Mawasi area. In total, since the ceasefire deal was announced on Wednesday, Palestinian media said strikes have killed at least 123 Palestinians.