Netanyahu may refuse to sign truce due to “last-minute extortion by Hamas”
Israel accuses Hamas of last-minute extortion attempts, as ongoing attacks in Gaza continue to claim civilian lives
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his cabinet will not convene to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement until Hamas resolves what he described as “a last-minute crisis.”
According to the prime minister’s office, Hamas has allegedly backtracked on certain points in the agreement to “extort final concessions,” though specific details were not disclosed.
The Israeli cabinet had been scheduled to ratify the pact this Thursday, but escalating tensions have delayed the process. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have claimed at least 48 lives over the past 24 hours. In previous conflicts, both sides have intensified their attacks in the hours leading up to a ceasefire to demonstrate strength.
Izzat al-Risheq, a senior Hamas official, denies accusations that the group has reneged on parts of the agreement. He reaffirmed Hamas’s commitment to the deal announced yesterday by mediators.
Civilian Casualties Mount
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that 48 bodies, including women and children, were brought to various hospitals since midday Wednesday. Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the ministry’s Registry Department, confirmed the high proportion of civilian casualties among the fatalities.
As part of the first phase of the agreement, Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages over the next six weeks. However, the group warned that it would not free the remaining hostages, including male soldiers, without a long-term ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Despite these assurances, the situation remains volatile, with each side blaming the other for the delays. The fragile talks, mediated by international parties, are at a critical juncture, and both sides are under intense pressure to finalize the deal.