– Zaina Aman
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed a cabinet meeting intended to approve a Gaza ceasefire deal, accusing Hamas of creating a “last-minute crisis.” The ceasefire, brokered by mediators and set to begin on January 19, aims to halt the escalating violence in the region.
“Hamas reneges on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions,” Netanyahu claimed in a statement. He insisted the Israeli cabinet would not convene until Hamas accepted all terms of the deal.
Senior Hamas officials have rejected these accusations, with spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri stating, “There is no basis to Netanyahu’s claims about the movement backtracking from terms in the ceasefire agreement.” Another Hamas official, Izzat al-Risheq, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the agreement mediated earlier this week.
Despite international optimism over the proposed truce, conditions on the ground in Gaza remain dire. According to the Civil Defence in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have killed 71 Palestinians, including 21 children and 24 women, since the ceasefire was announced. The strikes have drawn widespread criticism, with many accusing Israel of hypocrisy for intensifying attacks while touting plans for peace.
As the death toll rises, questions about Israel’s sincerity in its commitment to the ceasefire grow louder. The delay in approving the truce, combined with ongoing violence, has cast doubt on whether the ceasefire will bring meaningful peace or merely serve as a temporary reprieve.
