Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of backtracking on some parts of a Gaza ceasefire deal on Thursday, delaying its approval by the Israeli government. Netanyahu's office released a statement claiming that Hamas had reneged on aspects of the agreement reached with mediators and Israel, attempting to gain last-minute concessions.
"The Israeli Cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement," the statement read.
However, Hamas denied the allegations. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed Netanyahu's claims, stating that there was no basis for the accusations. Another senior member, Izzat al-Rishq, emphasized that Hamas was fully committed to the ceasefire deal, as announced by the mediators.
The ceasefire agreement, which involves a six-week truce and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, is designed to bring an end to 15 months of intense conflict. It also includes provisions for the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. The deal was mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US.
Despite the announcement of the ceasefire, Israel intensified airstrikes on Gaza hours later, according to local authorities, raising further concerns about the potential for lasting peace.
The final approval of the deal depends on Israel's security cabinet and government, with a vote initially scheduled for Thursday.
