Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Thursday that the Cabinet would not meet to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement due to what it referred to as a “last-minute crisis” caused by Hamas.
According to the statement, Hamas was accused of backtracking on parts of the agreement in an attempt to secure “last-minute concessions,” though no specific details of the alleged changes were provided.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Qatar, a key mediator, revealed a Gaza ceasefire plan aimed at facilitating the release of 33 hostages over six weeks. In return, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and withdraw from significant areas of Gaza.
The Cabinet had been set to ratify the agreement on Thursday, but the postponement highlights escalating tensions as both parties strive to finalize the ceasefire terms.
Once viewed as a potential breakthrough in the conflict, the agreement now hangs in uncertainty as negotiators work to address the stalemate.
