Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partner National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to bolt the government if the deal announced yesterday is approved, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of religious Zionism party, is said to be weighing a similar move.
Right-wing protesters demonstrated Wednesday night and Thursday against a deal for a truce in the Gaza war that would see the release of at least some of the Israeli hostages held by terror groups in the Palestinian enclave, warning that the terms of the agreement may endanger national security by releasing many convicted Palestinian terrorists while leaving some hostages in captivity and Hamas intact.
The Israeli official acknowledges to The Times of Israel that details are still being finalized in negotiations but insists that the disagreements are relatively minor and will be solved in the coming hours.
The US is aware of last-minute issues closing the final details of a ceasefire-hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas that was announced yesterday, according to White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, who nevertheless expresses confidence that the agreement will begin to be implemented on Sunday.
Hamas has rejected claims by Netanyahu that it is creating a last-minute “crisis”
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement this morning accusing Hamas of backing out of some agreements and creating a “crisis” in finalizing the deal.
“Hamas is reneging on agreement and creating a last-minute crisis that prevents an agreement from being reached. Hamas is abandoning the clear agreements reached with the mediators and with Israel in an attempt to exert pressure at the last minute,” the statement said.
Palestinian armed group Hamas has rejected claims by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it is creating a last-minute “crisis” in finalizing the deal to release the hostages held in Gaza.
On Wednesday, US President-elect Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had struck an agreement securing the release of the remaining hostages. According to multiple media outlets, the agreement approved in Qatar involves a 42-day truce and an exchange of prisoners, including all Israelis taken captive in the October 7, 2023 Hamas incursion into the country.
“Hamas is committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators,” Izzat al-Risheq, a senior member of the group’s political bureau, said in a post on Telegram on Thursday.
Hostage families: “Only Netanyahu responsible if the agreement collapses”
The families of the hostages at the Haim Forum, referring to the announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office that “Hamas is retracting its agreements”, stated that “neither Hamas nor Ben Gvir, but Benjamin Netanyahu, will be responsible for any further obstruction to the return of the hostages”.
Families of Israeli Hostages threaten Legal Action against Netanyahu over blocked Gaza deal
According to the families, “the agreement must be started immediately in all its phases”.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum calls on the public to gather at Tel Aviv’s so-called Hostages Square, as the nation waits for confirmation from Israel on a hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas that was announced yesterday.
“These are critical and moving hours for us and for the entire nation of Israel,” the forum says in a statement.
Netanyahu cancels trip to Trump’s inauguration
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend US President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration ceremony, The Times of Israel reported on Thursday, citing the prime minister’s senior aide.
Trump will take the oath of office and officially be sworn in as the 47th US president on January 20 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. The Israeli leader had previously been expected to attend the event.
The now-cancelled trip to Washington would have been Netanyahu’s first trip abroad since an arrest warrant against him and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
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