Israel delayed a planned cabinet meeting on Thursday to ratify a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, citing last-minute demands from the militant group, as Palestinian officials reported 77 deaths from overnight airstrikes in Gaza.
Hamas official Izzat el-Reshiq said the group remained committed to the ceasefire, which was agreed upon a day earlier and scheduled to take effect on Sunday. The deal is expected to end 15 months of violence that have devastated Gaza and strained the region.
U.S. Special Envoy Brett McGurk and former President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff are in Doha, along with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, working to resolve outstanding disputes, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. The primary issue involves the identities of prisoners Hamas demands to be released, a matter expected to be resolved soon.
Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer confirmed that Israeli negotiators are in Doha attempting to finalize the deal.
The ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, aims to end a conflict that has left tens of thousands dead in Gaza and triggered broader regional instability. The initial six-week agreement includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel. Hamas-controlled hostages will be released in return for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails.
The accord also includes provisions for humanitarian aid. A surge in supplies is expected to address severe shortages in Gaza, where much of the population is displaced. Aid trucks are reportedly lined up at the Egyptian border town of El-Arish, awaiting clearance to enter Gaza once the ceasefire begins.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed cabinet discussions, accusing Hamas of reneging on agreed terms. “The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement,” read a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
While a majority of Israeli ministers are expected to approve the deal, opposition from right-wing factions in Netanyahu’s coalition persists. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party has threatened to withdraw from the government if the agreement is not followed by renewed military action to dismantle Hamas. Far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also warned he would resign if the ceasefire is implemented.
In Jerusalem, protests erupted as Israelis marched through the streets carrying mock coffins, opposing the ceasefire and accusing the government of capitulation.
Gazan residents, meanwhile, expressed urgency for the truce. “We lose homes every hour. We demand this joy not to be delayed,” said Mahmoud Abu Wardeh, a Gaza resident.
The ceasefire deal mandates the delivery of 600 truckloads of aid daily during the truce, including 50 carrying fuel. Israel will also release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase, while 33 hostages held in Gaza, including women, children, and men over 50, are set to be freed.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, airstrikes continued. Gaza’s health ministry reported 81 deaths over the past 24 hours, including 77 since the deal was publicized. Israeli military officials said they were reviewing the reports.
The conflict, which began after Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, has killed more than 46,000 people in Gaza and displaced most of its 2.3 million residents, according to Palestinian officials. Israel launched its military campaign in response to the assault, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 taken hostage.
If successful, the ceasefire could halt fighting that has devastated Gaza and defuse tensions across the Middle East.
