Israel won’t begin cease-fire until Hamas releases names of hostages: Benjamin Netanyahu

Less than an hour before the long-awaited cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas was set to begin, the pact was in jeopardy, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he still hasn’t received the names of the captives slated to be freed and the deal wouldn’t proceed without it.

Three female hostages were set to be released from Gaza on Sunday — with the terror group supposed to have provided their names on Saturday, according to Israeli officials.

But early Sunday Netanyahu said Israel hadn’t gotten the names, and he “instructed the IDF that the cease-fire, which is scheduled to take effect at 8:30 a.m., will not begin until Israel has the list of hostages to be released, which Hamas has pledged to provide,” according to the Times of Israel.

Hamas claimed on Saturday that the failure to turn over the names was due to “technical reasons,” The Times of Israel reported.

The hostage exchange was expected at 4 p.m. local time — 1:30 a.m. eastern standard time.