Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal Stalls Amid Last-Minute Crisis

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A long-awaited ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas faced a last-minute crisis Thursday, delaying its implementation as Israeli airstrikes continued to pound the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the deal, while the militant group insisted it remained committed to the agreement brokered by mediators.

The proposed deal, announced Wednesday, aimed to pause the 15-month war, release dozens of hostages held by Hamas, and allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes. However, Netanyahu’s office said the Cabinet would not approve the agreement until Hamas backed down from its demands, accusing the group of seeking further concessions.

“We were expecting that the occupation would intensify the bombing, like they did every time there were reports on progress in the truce negotiations,” said Mohammed Mahdi, a Gaza resident sheltering in Gaza City. Overnight, heavy Israeli bombardment killed at least 48 people, half of whom were women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

In Tel Aviv, relatives of Israeli hostages took to the streets Wednesday night, demanding a deal that would bring their loved ones home. Meanwhile, celebrations erupted in Gaza and Jordan as news of the ceasefire spread, with many waving Palestinian flags and photos of Hamas leaders.

U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking from the White House, praised the agreement as a “critical step toward peace.” The deal, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, would see 33 hostages released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a temporary halt to fighting. However, Netanyahu faces pressure from his far-right coalition partners, who have threatened to collapse his government if he makes too many concessions.

The war, which began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has killed over 46,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, and displaced 90% of the territory’s 2.3 million population. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 Hamas fighters, though it has not provided evidence.

Mediators are expected to meet in Cairo Thursday to discuss the implementation of the agreement, but many questions about postwar Gaza remain unresolved, including who will govern the devastated territory.