Two senior Hamas leaders on Thursday dismissed claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office that the group was reneging on the recently announced Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
A Hamas political bureau member, Sami Abu Zuhri, stated, “There is no basis to Netanyahu’s claims about the movement backtracking from terms in the ceasefire agreement,” in comments to AFP. Another bureau member, Izzat al-Rishq, reiterated Hamas’s stance, saying: “Hamas is committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators.”
The Israeli government’s ratification of the deal has reportedly been delayed, with Netanyahu’s office asserting that Hamas was seeking “last-minute concessions.” As a result, the Israeli cabinet refrained from voting on the agreement until mediators could confirm Hamas’s acceptance of all its terms.
The deal, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, followed months of failed negotiations. At midnight (2200 GMT Wednesday), Netanyahu’s office stated that “final details” were still under negotiation and that the prime minister would not comment until a complete agreement was reached.
Israeli media highlighted internal discord within Netanyahu’s ruling coalition as a factor in the delay. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has publicly opposed the ceasefire agreement, calling it a “dangerous deal” for Israel’s security.
Smotrich’s party, Religious Zionism, issued a statement on Thursday expressing strong opposition to the deal and reaffirming its support for the finance minister. According to the Kan public broadcaster, Smotrich poses a “real threat” to the integrity of Netanyahu’s government.
The ceasefire agreement, aimed at halting over 15 months of conflict, is expected to be implemented in three phases.
In the first phase, set to begin on Sunday, a truce will take effect, and 33 hostages will be exchanged for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners over 42 days. Additionally, aid to the Gaza Strip will increase to address the devastation caused by the conflict.
While mediators have expressed hope for the deal’s success, Netanyahu’s coalition tensions and Hamas’s firm rejection of the accusations highlight the fragile nature of the agreement.
