Israeli Cabinet Delays Approval of Gaza Ceasefire Deal as Strikes Kill 77
Israel announced that it postponed a cabinet meeting on Thursday intended to approve a ceasefire with Hamas, attributing the delay to the militant group.
Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities reported that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight resulted in the deaths of 77 individuals. Izzat el-Reshiq, a senior official in Hamas, stated that the organization remains dedicated to the ceasefire agreement reached the previous day, which was set to commence on Sunday, aimed at ending 15 months of violence. U.S. envoy Brett McGurk and President-elect Donald J.
Trump’s representative Steve Witkoff were in Doha, collaborating with Egyptian and Qatari mediators to address the final outstanding issue, according to a U.S. official who requested anonymity.
This contention pertains to the identities of several prisoners that Hamas has asked for to be released, and the official indicated that a resolution is anticipated soon. Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer informed reporters that Israeli negotiators were in Doha to find a resolution.
The intricate ceasefire arrangement was established on Wednesday following mediation from Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. to halt the conflict that has ravaged the coastal region and heightened tensions in the Middle East. The agreement specifies an initial ceasefire of six weeks, during which Israeli forces would gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip, an area where tens of thousands have lost their lives.
Hostages taken by the Hamas militant group, which governs the enclave, would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
The agreement also facilitates a significant increase in humanitarian assistance for Gaza, where most of the population has been displaced and is experiencing severe food shortages, as food security experts indicated late last year. A line of aid trucks is stationed in the Egyptian border town of El-Arish, ready to enter Gaza once the border reopens.
Israel’s acceptance of the agreement won’t be official until it receives approval from the country’s security cabinet and government, with a vote planned for Thursday.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed the meeting, accusing Hamas of making unexpected demands and failing to adhere to prior agreements.
“The Israeli cabinet will not meet until mediators inform Israel that Hamas has agreed to all aspects of the deal,” said a statement from Netanyahu’s office. Hardliners within Netanyahu’s administration are still looking to block the agreement, though most ministers are anticipated to support it.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party stated that their requirement for remaining in government would be a return to hostilities after the deal’s initial phase to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of all hostages.
Far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has warned of his intention to resign from the government if the ceasefire is approved. In Jerusalem, some Israelis protested against the ceasefire by marching in the streets with mock coffins, obstructing roads, and clashing with law enforcement.
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Despite the delay in the cabinet meeting, political analysts on Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, suggested that the recent hold-up would likely be resolved and that the ceasefire is effectively finalized.
CALLS FOR FASTER IMPLEMENTATION
For some Palestinians, the agreement could not arrive any sooner. “We lose homes every hour. We ask that this happiness not fade away, the joy that has appeared on our faces – please do not squander it by postponing the start of the truce until Sunday,” said Gazan resident Mahmoud Abu Wardeh.
The deal stipulates that 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid must be permitted into Gaza daily during the ceasefire, including 50 trucks carrying fuel.
The initial stage of the accord will also involve Israel freeing more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. While people rejoiced over the agreement in both Gaza and Israel, the Israeli military continued to carry out airstrikes, according to the civil emergency service and residents. Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 81 individuals had died in the last 24 hours, and approximately 188 had been injured.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service indicated that at least 77 of those fatalities occurred since the announcement of the ceasefire. A spokesperson for the Israeli military stated that they are investigating these claims.
Israel achieved significant advancements against Iran and its allies, particularly Hezbollah, as the conflict in Gaza escalated. In Gaza, although Hamas may have been severely weakened, it has been allowed to remain due to the absence of a replacement administration.
If the ceasefire succeeds, it will put an end to hostilities that have devastated much of densely populated Gaza, resulted in over 46,000 fatalities, and caused the displacement of nearly the entire pre-war population of 2.3 million, according to authorities in Gaza.
This could help ease tensions throughout the broader Middle East. Currently, there are 98 foreign and Israeli hostages still in Gaza, and the first phase of the agreement focuses on the release of 33 of them, which includes all women, children, and men over the age of 50.
The global response to the ceasefire has been largely positive. Israel initiated its operations in Gaza after Hamas militants attacked Israeli border communities on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians and taking more than 250 hostages, as reported by Israeli figures.
Source: Reuters