Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas is delaying the approval of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement to gain further concessions, leading to the postponement of the Israeli Cabinet's meeting to approve the deal.
The proposed agreement, mediated by the United States and Qatar, aims to release dozens of hostages held in Gaza and pause the 15-month conflict that has destabilized the Middle East. Under the deal, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israeli forces would pull back from many areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes, and there would be a surge of humanitarian assistance.
Despite the announcement of the deal, Israeli airstrikes continued across Gaza, with at least 48 people killed between midday Wednesday and Thursday morning, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Around half of the dead were women and children.
The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Currently, about 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military estimating that between a third and half of them are deceased.
Netanyahu has faced domestic pressure to secure the release of the hostages, but his far-right coalition partners have threatened to dissolve the government if he makes excessive concessions. While he has sufficient opposition support to approve an agreement, doing so could weaken his coalition and lead to early elections.
Hamas, a militant group that does not recognize Israel's existence, has come under significant pressure from Israeli military operations, including invasions of Gaza's largest cities and control over the border between Gaza and Egypt. Its top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, believed to have orchestrated the October 7 attack, have been killed. However, its fighters have regrouped in some of the hardest-hit areas after Israeli forces withdrew, raising concerns about a prolonged insurgency if the war continues.
Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. are expected to meet in Cairo to discuss implementing the agreement. They have spent the past year holding indirect talks with Israel and Hamas, finally resulting in a deal after repeated setbacks. President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy joined the talks in the final weeks, with both the outgoing administration and Trump's team taking credit for the breakthrough.
Many longer-term questions about postwar Gaza remain, including who will govern the territory and oversee the reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has destabilized the broader Middle East and sparked worldwide protests. Israel has faced international criticism, including from its closest ally, the United States, over the civilian toll in Gaza. It also blames Hamas for the civilian casualties, accusing it of using schools, hospitals, and residential areas for military purposes.
The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations brought by South Africa that Israel has committed genocide. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and a Hamas commander for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war. Israel and the United States have condemned the actions taken by both courts.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that will bring lasting peace to the region.
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