The agreement, which would include the release of hostages, was met with cautious optimism after 15 months of war. But Israel’s cabinet needs to ratify the deal, and the prime minister’s office said there were some last-minute disputes with Hamas.
After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said Hamas had backed out of parts of the cease-fire agreement, a Hamas official said that wasn’t true. The official, Izzat al-Rishq, said Hamas remained committed to the deal announced by mediators.
Jan. 16, 2025, 4:00 a.m. ET
Aaron Boxerman Reporting from Jerusalem
The office of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said Israel would not convene its cabinet to vote on the cease-fire agreement for now, citing last-minute disputes with Hamas. The Palestinian group did not immediately comment.
Aaron Boxerman
Jan. 16, 2025, 4:05 a.m. ET
Aaron BoxermanReporting from Jerusalem
Netanyahu’s office said that Hamas had backed out of parts of the cease-fire deal, without saying what they were. It added that the cabinet would not meet to discuss the agreement until Israel had been notified that Hamas had accepted “all elements.”
Aaron Boxerman
Jan. 16, 2025, 4:06 a.m. ET
Aaron BoxermanReporting from Jerusalem
Negotiators continued to work on the final details of the agreement overnight, including the identities of which Palestinian prisoners would be released in exchange for hostages in Gaza.
Aaron Boxerman
Jan. 16, 2025, 4:08 a.m. ET
Aaron BoxermanReporting from Jerusalem
Some of Netanyahu’s hard-line coalition allies have said they opposed the cease-fire, calling it an effective surrender to Hamas. If they left the government in protest, that could weaken Netanyahu’s grip on power.
Looks to me like Israel is planning the old “Hamas didnt agree switcheroo” and hopes for the US to back them up. In a similar fashion Israel backed down from the “Biden deal” in June last minute and tried to blame Hamas for it, despite Hamas reconfirming that it is committed to the deal.
It remains to be seen, if Biden will use the last days in office to apply tangible pressure for once, or if he will surrender the US to the whims of the Israeli government again.
Looks to me like Israel is planning the old “Hamas didnt agree switcheroo” and hopes for the US to back them up. In a similar fashion Israel backed down from the “Biden deal” in June last minute and tried to blame Hamas for it, despite Hamas reconfirming that it is committed to the deal.
It remains to be seen, if Biden will use the last days in office to apply tangible pressure for once, or if he will surrender the US to the whims of the Israeli government again.