Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a postponement of the cabinet meeting initially scheduled to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Netanyahu blamed Hamas for a “last-minute crisis,” accusing the Palestinian group of reneging on parts of the deal to extract additional concessions.
The ceasefire, brokered by international mediators, was set to be ratified by the Israeli cabinet and take effect this Sunday.
However, internal conflicts within Netanyahu’s far-right coalition have added to the delay.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, has reportedly threatened to withdraw his party from the government if the ceasefire is approved without guarantees of future military action against Hamas.
The delay comes amidst growing domestic pressure on Netanyahu.
Families of captives held in Gaza, along with supporters, staged protests outside the prime minister’s office, urging the government to reject the ceasefire.
Protesters accused Netanyahu of surrendering to Hamas and compromising Israel’s security.
Meanwhile, Hamas officials reiterated their commitment to the terms of the agreement announced by mediators, contradicting Netanyahu’s claims.
Adding to the complexity, Israeli forces have intensified their bombardment of Gaza. In the past 24 hours, 81 Palestinians were killed, with 200 more injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The war, ongoing since October 7, 2023, has left over 46,788 Palestinians dead and 110,453 wounded.
Netanyahu faces a difficult balancing act, navigating between calls for peace and resistance from his far-right coalition partners who demand a hardline stance against Hamas.
The political uncertainty leaves the future of the ceasefire in question.
