Netanyahu Accuses Hamas of Undermining Ceasefire Deal Amid Growing Tensions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday accused Hamas of attempting to sabotage a crucial ceasefire deal designed to end over a year of devastating conflict in Gaza. The deal, which was to be ratified by Israel’s Cabinet, promised a temporary halt to hostilities, the release of hostages, and a significant reduction in fighting. However, Netanyahu’s office claimed that Hamas was backing out of key terms of the agreement, alleging the militant group sought “last-minute concessions” to the deal, threatening its implementation.

As tensions escalated, Netanyahu’s office declared that the Israeli Cabinet would not vote on the ceasefire until Hamas withdrew from what it described as a “crisis” moment. The ceasefire deal, brokered with the involvement of international mediators including Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S., was announced in phases, with the first phase lasting six weeks. During this period, Israeli forces would withdraw from populated Gaza areas, and the release of numerous hostages, including women, the elderly, and wounded individuals, would take place.

U.S. President Joe Biden, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, spoke on Wednesday about the significance of the ceasefire, underscoring its humanitarian implications. Biden detailed the first phase of the agreement, which also included the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel and a surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. He stressed that Americans would be part of the first group of hostages released and expressed hope for a positive outcome.

However, the deal hit a major stumbling block when Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of trying to renegotiate an earlier agreement about which prisoners would be released in exchange for hostages. Netanyahu had insisted that Israel would have veto power over the release of prisoners convicted of murder, a term Hamas reportedly resisted.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, 33 hostages would be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces would also pull back from several areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes, although much of Gaza remains devastated. The remaining hostages, including male soldiers, are slated for release in the second phase, but Hamas has demanded a full, lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal before agreeing to further releases.

Netanyahu’s administration is under increasing pressure at home to secure the release of hostages, with his far-right coalition partners threatening to bring down his government if too many concessions are made. Despite this, Netanyahu has garnered enough opposition support to potentially approve the deal, though doing so could weaken his coalition and trigger early elections.

As negotiations continued, violence in Gaza persisted, with Israeli airstrikes killing at least 48 people, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The death toll is expected to rise as hospitals continue to report casualties. In spite of the ceasefire announcement, heavy bombardment and clashes persisted, highlighting the fragile nature of the agreement.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with over 46,000 people reported dead and large parts of Gaza in ruins. The war has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s population, and the ongoing destruction has strained international efforts to broker peace. Despite the setbacks, there is cautious optimism that a breakthrough may still be possible as mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. continue to push for a resolution.

Gathered by Onoro promise

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