A scheduled cabinet meeting in Israel to approve a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas was postponed on Thursday morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the militant group of “reneging” on aspects of the agreement. Netanyahu’s office announced that the cabinet would not meet until Hamas accepted all terms of the deal.
In response, a Hamas official affirmed via social media that the group remains committed to the agreement announced the previous day, although no further specifics were provided by either side.
An insider familiar with the discussions, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, revealed that representatives from both parties continue to engage in talks regarding the release of hostages and prisoners, as well as the implementation and oversight of the deal.
If approved by Israel’s cabinet and coalition government, this agreement could take effect on Sunday, offering much-needed relief to the beleaguered population in Gaza and to the Israeli captives who have been held for over 15 months.
The proposed deal includes an initial 42-day ceasefire, during which the Israeli military would withdraw from specific regions in Gaza. This would be accompanied by an influx of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and an exchange of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians detained in Israeli jails, as outlined by President Joe Biden. Further phases, which are still under negotiation, would involve the release of all remaining hostages, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire.
Both the Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump have claimed credit for facilitating the agreement, which has been mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, and is scheduled to commence just before Trump takes office. Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, recently met with key stakeholders, including Netanyahu, though he did not actively partake in the negotiations.
Additional Context:
In Gaza, celebrations were muted due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes prior to the deal’s implementation. Mahmoud Basel, spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense, reported that at least 77 people have died and over 250 have been injured since the announcement, including 21 children and 25 women.
The first six weeks of the agreement are projected to involve the release of 33 hostages, including American citizens Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, according to a senior Biden administration official speaking under anonymity as per White House rules.
Statistics from the Gaza Health Ministry estimate that at least 46,778 individuals have died and 110,453 have been injured during the ongoing conflict. The ministry does not clarify the distinction between civilians and combatants, though it asserts that the majority of casualties are women and children.
Israeli authorities suspect that 98 hostages remain in Gaza, with approximately 60 believed to be alive. Israel reports that about 1,200 people died during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, including over 300 soldiers, while around 405 soldiers have perished in Israel’s military operations in Gaza.