Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Thursday that his Cabinet would not meet to approve the ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip until Hamas resolves what Israel referred to as a “last-minute crisis.”
Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of breaking parts of the agreement in an effort “to extort last-minute concessions.” Specific details about the disputed parts of the deal, however, were not provided.
Saif Ali Khan Health Update
The Israeli Cabinet had been scheduled to ratify the agreement on Thursday.
The Israel Hamas-war has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities there. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but says women and children make up more than half the fatalities.
Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250. A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead.
The ceasefire agreement, reached on Wednesday, aims to pause over 15 months of conflict in the Gaza Strip. The deal also includes the phased release of hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. It would allow displaced residents in Gaza to return to their homes and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region.
Here are the top developments on the deal so far
Qatar confirms ceasefire deal
Qatar, a key mediator in the deal, announced late on Wednesday that, as part of the initial stage of a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict in Gaza, 33 hostages held by Hamas would be released.
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani confirmed the agreement, saying that it would secure the release of hostages and prisoners and bring a return to “sustainable calm.” He added that the ceasefire is set to begin on Sunday, though some logistical issues remain to be resolved.
What’s in the deal?
The first phase of the ceasefire will last six weeks, during which Israeli forces will move east of Gaza, away from populated areas. Hostages will begin to be released during this phase, according to The New York Times.
US President Joe Biden said that during this phase, Palestinians in Gaza would be able to return to their neighborhoods and access increased humanitarian aid.
Who will be freed?
If implemented, the ceasefire will involve the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Around 100 hostages are believed to still be in Gaza, though Israeli authorities estimate that 35 of them may no longer be alive.
Hamas leaders are seeking the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. According to Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, 33 Israeli hostages will be freed during the 42-day agreement, but the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released has not been specified.
What happens next?
The agreement must be formally approved by the Israeli government. The Israeli Cabinet was set to ratify the deal Thursday. However, Netanyahu’s office said on Thursday that his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages until Hamas backs down from what it called a “last minute crisis.”
Credit war between Trump and Biden
Both – US President Joe Biden and US President-elect Donald Trump have claimed credit for the ceasefire agreement reached on Wednesday between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The White House confirmed that Trump’s Middle East envoy was included in the negotiations, which have been ongoing for months.
Trump asserted that his role was decisive in achieving the agreement. Trump declared, “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.” He also expressed satisfaction over the return of American and Israeli hostages.
Trump further said that his incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, had participated in the talks held in Doha, Qatar. He pledged that Witkoff would continue working with Israel and other allies to ensure Gaza would not become “a terrorist safe haven.”
Meanwhile, President Biden highlighted the role of his administration’s diplomatic efforts. Speaking from the White House, he stated, “My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done.” He pointed to the pressures on Hamas and shifting regional dynamics, including the Lebanon ceasefire and Iran’s weakened position, as contributing factors to the agreement. Biden called the outcome the result of “dogged and painstaking American diplomacy.”