Deadly Gaza airstrikes continue as hostage agreement yet to be carried out

War raged on in Gaza on Thursday, as a proposed truce and release of hostages was delayed for at least another day.

Columns of black smoke could be seen rising above northern Gaza's war zone from across the fence in Israel as daylight broke over the strip. Israel said the release of hostages, meant to be accompanied by the war's first ceasefire, would be delayed at least until Friday.

The Israeli military said it had launched 300 airstrikes in the past day, and sounded sirens warning of cross-border rocket launches by Palestinian armed groups. Palestinian media reported Israeli strikes in the northern areas as well as in the southern city of Khan Younis, where Israel has told residents of the north to seek shelter.

"The negotiations on the release of our hostages are advancing and continuing constantly," Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a statement overnight. "The start of the release will take place according to the original agreement between the sides, and not before Friday."

The first truce in the seven-week-old war is meant to be accompanied by the release of 50 women and children hostages captured by militants who raided Israel on Oct. 7, in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees from Israeli jails.

The agreement was announced on Wednesday morning, but more than a day later an expected announcement of the official start time had yet to materialize. Mediator Qatar said on Thursday it could make an announcement within hours.

Israel has said the truce could last beyond the initial four days as long as the militants free at least 10 hostages per day. A Palestinian source has said a second wave of releases could allow as many as 100 hostages to go free by month's end.

Israeli officials did not give a full explanation for the delay in the start of the truce but said full arrangements still needed to be made for the release of the hostages to begin.

"This would appear to be a matter of finalizing the details," Energy Minister Israel Katz, a member of the security cabinet, told Army Radio in an interview. "Israel did not announce in advance that this would happen today. The understanding was that it would happen as Friday approaches."

The U.S. and Egypt also helped broker the deal. White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson said final logistical details for the release were being worked out.

"That is on track and we are hopeful that implementation will begin on Friday morning," Watson said.

Israel's Ynet news website reported that Israel had not yet received the names of the hostages slated for release by Hamas.

Those in prison in Israel who could be released include many teenage boys detained during a wave of violence in the West Bank in 2022 or 2023 and charged with offences such as stone-throwing or disturbing public order, according to a list of eligible prisoners published by Israel's Justice Ministry. Israel currently holds nearly 7,000 Palestinians accused or convicted of security offences.

Hamas said hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel are to be allowed to enter Gaza every day as part of the deal. Supplies would also reach northern Gaza, the focus of Israel's ground offensive, for the first time, Hamas said.