Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas on Thursday of withdrawing from a cease-fire agreement that included releasing hostages and initiating a pause in over a year of fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu’s office announced that his Cabinet would not convene to vote on the cease-fire until Hamas resolved what the office described as a “last-minute crisis.” Without providing details, the office accused Hamas of reneging on part of the agreement to secure “last-minute concessions.”
President Joe Biden, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, held a news conference on Wednesday outlining the deal, which is structured in three phases. According to Biden, the first phase—spanning six weeks—would include a full cease-fire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the release of hostages, including women, the elderly, and injured individuals. He added that Americans would be among the hostages released and expressed eagerness to welcome them home. In return, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and facilitate the return of displaced Palestinians to their neighborhoods, coupled with a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, stated that Hamas remained committed to the agreement mediated by international parties.
Netanyahu’s office previously accused Hamas of backtracking on an earlier understanding that allowed Israel to veto the release of Palestinian prisoners convicted of murder. Under the terms of the deal, 33 hostages would be freed in the coming weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Israeli forces would pull back from several areas, enabling displaced Palestinians to return to their homes while humanitarian aid surged into the region. The release of the remaining hostages, including male soldiers, would be negotiated in subsequent talks. However, Hamas insists on a permanent cease-fire and a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has pledged to continue its military operations until Hamas is dismantled.
Netanyahu faces domestic pressure to secure the hostages' release, but his far-right coalition partners have threatened to destabilize his government over perceived excessive concessions. While opposition support could help Netanyahu approve the agreement, it risks weakening his coalition and possibly triggering early elections.
Despite the cease-fire announcement, Palestinians in Gaza reported intense overnight Israeli airstrikes, with the Health Ministry confirming at least 48 fatalities, including women and children. The death toll is expected to rise as hospitals update records. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are scheduled to meet in Cairo to finalize and implement the agreement, following a year of indirect negotiations with Israel and Hamas.
Both the outgoing U.S. administration and President-elect Donald Trump’s team have claimed credit for the agreement, with Trump’s Mideast envoy participating in the final discussions.
The conflict has exacted a devastating toll, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting over 46,000 deaths—predominantly women and children—during the Israeli offensive. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though no evidence has been provided. The war has decimated Gaza’s infrastructure, displacing approximately 90% of its 2.3 million residents, according to United Nations estimates.
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