Rabat – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that his Cabinet will not meet to approve a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip until Hamas agrees to all parts of the deal.
Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of backing out of certain commitments in the agreement at the last minute to demand additional concessions. “Hamas reneges on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions,” he said.
“The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement,” the statement added. The Israeli cabinet was set to convene today to ratify the deal.
Meanwhile, Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq stated on Telegram today that the group is “committed to the ceasefire agreement” as outlined by the mediators.
The ceasefire deal was brokered by Qatar and the US and announced by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday. The first phase involves a temporary ceasefire and the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas over the next six weeks. In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and withdraw from parts of Gaza.
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It will also include steps to allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, or what’s left of them, and receive aid.
Specific details of the second and third phases of the ceasefire remain unclear and are set to be negotiated during the first phase. Biden said the ceasefire will continue even if negotiations on the coming phases go beyond the six week mark.
Despite the announcement of the agreement, Israel has continued its aggression in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 73 Palestinians and injured 230 others since the announcement of the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s civil defense.
The deal comes in the wake of growing domestic pressure on Netanyahu to secure the return of Israeli hostages. However, his far-right coalition partners have warned they could bring down the government if too many concessions are made.
