Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed a cabinet vote on the ceasefire agreement that was expected to take place today, claiming that Hamas has “backtracked” on elements of the deal.
“Hamas reneges on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions,” a statement from the prime minister’s office alleged.
“The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement.”
Israeli ministers had been expected to vote on whether to approve the Qatar, Egypt and US-brokered truce at 13:00 GMT.
The news comes as Israel killed dozens of Palestinians in fresh attacks on the Gaza Strip this morning, hours after the Qatari prime minister officially announced the ceasefire agreement on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, world leaders continue to react to the news, expressing hope that the breakthrough will pave the way for both sides to agree to permanently end the war in the coming weeks.
