Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office announced Thursday that his Cabinet will not convene to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement due to what it described as a “last-minute crisis” caused by Hamas.
The statement accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement in a bid “to extort last-minute concessions.” Specific details of the alleged changes were not disclosed.
Maya Alleruzzo/AP
On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Qatar, a key mediator, unveiled a Gaza ceasefire agreement designed to secure the release of 33 hostages over six weeks. In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and withdraw from significant portions of Gaza.
On Wednesday Iran-aligned forces in Iraq and Yemen announced a suspension of their attacks on Israel following the ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.
The decision from militant factions in the region, which now appears uncertain in light of Netanyahu’s announcement, reflects a shift in the regional dynamics influenced by the the the U.S. and Qatar mediated ceasefire.
The Israeli Cabinet was initially scheduled to ratify the deal Thursday, but the delay signals growing tensions as both sides attempt to finalize the terms of the ceasefire.
The deal, seen as a potential turning point in the conflict, now faces uncertainty as negotiators work to resolve the impasse.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
