ISRAEL has confirmed a truce deal to free Hamas hostages will not begin before Friday at the earliest.
Around 50 captives were set to be freed today, but an agreed four-day ceasefire was postponed last night hours before it was due to begin.
"Negotiations for the release of our captives are progressing and continue all the time," said Tzachi Hanegbi, head of Israel's National Security Council.
"The start of the release will proceed according to the original agreement between the parties, and not before Friday."
The ceasefire was due to begin at 10am local time this morning, according to a deal thrashed out in Qatar.
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Earlier, Israel's Prime Minister confirmed that the IDF "will rescue all hostages and obliterate Hamas" after a release deal was reached.
Addressing the families of kidnapped Israelis on Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu said that since the beginning of the war, he has not stopped thinking about them and their loved ones.
He also reassured them that "we will rescue all hostages held by Hamas".
He added: "I want to be clear. The war is continuing. The war is continuing. We will continue it until we achieve all our goals."
He repeated that the Israeli security establishment is "determined to follow through with this war" until Hamas is defeated.
The defiant PM also stated that the "war will continue" as the IDF has been "capturing terrorists" and interrogating them for information.
Defence minister Yoav Galant added that the IDF is not going to turn back until they execute their plan to free and return hostages to their loved ones.
Yesterday, Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh said it was "close to reaching a truce agreement" with Israel even as the bloody assault in the war-torn enclave continues.
A total of 240 hostages are being held in Gaza, including at least 40 children, according to Israel.
And following today's approval, under the truce deal, a four-day halt in fighting was agreed as well as the release of 50 of the roughly 240 hostages.
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Following weeks of negotiations facilitated by Qatar as a mediator, the Israeli Prime Minister's cabinet gave its approval for the truce today after an almost all-night session.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed to ministers it was a "difficult decision but it's a right decision."
However, Netanyahu remained steadfast in affirming that Israel's mission remains unchanged, asserting that the offensive will resume once the ceasefire period ends.
He said: "We are at war and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals.
"To destroy Hamas, return all our hostages, and ensure that no entity in Gaza can threaten Israel."
It is understood Hamas has agreed to release women and children, but not female IDF soldiers they’ve captured.
For every 10 hostages released, the extension of the lull will be prolonged by an extra day.
In exchange, around 150 Palestinian women and children will be freed from Israeli prisons at a ratio of 3:1, Sky News reports.
Israel has released a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who could be released as part of the deal.
The majority are teenagers arrested over the past year for a string of minor offences.
Under Israeli law, the public has 24 hours to object to any release.
The agreement states that "immediately after the end of the pause in fighting needed to secure the release of the hostages, fighting will resume in the Gaza Strip in order to destroy the military and organizational capabilities of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and to create the conditions for the return of all the hostages."
Humanitarian aid will also be allowed to enter all areas of the Gaza Strip.
Israel's aerial surveillance will cease for four days in the southern region of the Gaza Strip and will operate for six hours daily over a span of four days in the northern area.
Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed the deal, saying that "a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons" would be released in exchange for the hostages.
It added that the starting time of the truce "will be announced within the next 24 hours and last for four days, subject to extension."
Israeli media said the first release of hostages was expected on Thursday.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron welcomed the truce which he described as a "crucial step" and urged both sides to deliver the deal in full.
He said: “This agreement is a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He said: “This agreement is a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“I urge all parties to ensure the agreement is delivered in full. Of course, we want to see all hostages released immediately and families affected by the horrors of the October 7th terror attack reunited.
“This pause provides an important opportunity to ensure much greater volumes of food, fuel, and other life-saving aid can reach Gaza on a sustained basis.
"We have already doubled our aid commitment to Palestinians this year and will work closely with the UN to ensure it reaches those who need it.
“The UK will continue to work with all partners in the region to secure the release of all hostages, restore security, and reach a long-term political solution which enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace.”
Hamas released a statement welcoming the "humanitarian truce", but noted that "our hands remain on the trigger."
Palestinian civilians have been left fleeing for their lives as Israel attempts to destroy Hamas after the terror group massacred 1,200 civilians on October 7.
Families living in Gaza have been caught in the brutal crossfire, with regular accusations that the terrorists are attempting to use them as “human shields”.
Much of the northern part of the strip has been turned into a devastated warzone - with ruined buildings, dwindling supplies, and horrific suffering for Gaza’s people.
The Red Cross estimates that some 1.5million civilians have been forced to flee south amid the Israeli onslaught from land, air, and sea.
Figures for the death toll remain unverified - but Hamas’ health officials claim more than 11,000 civilians, including more than 4,500 children have been killed.
Israel disputes these figures - and US President Joe Biden said he had “no confidence” in them.
But Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Israel has "not been successful” in reducing civilian casualties.
But he said the deaths must be blamed on Hamas - not Israel.
And as the horror continues there have been growing calls for a humanitarian ceasefire to stop the bloodshed.
