Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed a cabinet meeting to approve a Gaza ceasefire agreement, blaming Hamas for what he called a ‘last-minute crisis’. The deal, brokered by international mediators, was expected to come into effect on Sunday, potentially ending months of relentless violence in the besieged territory.
“Hamas reneges on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. The cabinet meeting, initially scheduled for Thursday, will remain on hold until mediators confirm Hamas’s full acceptance of the agreement.
Hamas Denies Israeli Accusations
Hamas swiftly rejected Netanyahu’s claims, reaffirming its commitment to the terms of the ceasefire. Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq said the group had not violated the agreement and accused Netanyahu of using the delay to address internal political challenges within his coalition.
Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, highlighted growing tensions within Netanyahu’s far-right government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, has threatened to withdraw from the coalition over the ceasefire deal, calling it a betrayal of Israel’s security interests.
“This delay appears more related to political infighting within Netanyahu’s government than any substantive issues with Hamas,” Salhut reported. “Smotrich is demanding guarantees that Israel will resume military action after the initial phase of the ceasefire.”
Domestic Opposition to Ceasefire
The ceasefire proposal has drawn backlash from right-wing groups in Israel. Families of Israeli captives staged a sit-in outside Netanyahu’s office, urging him to reject the deal. Protesters, including parents of soldiers killed in the conflict, accused the government of capitulating to Hamas.
“Do not sign a deal that sacrifices Israel’s security and abandons the captives in Gaza,” said Yehoshua Shani, whose son was killed during the fighting. Demonstrators displayed symbolic coffins draped in Israeli flags, warning that the agreement would result in further bloodshed.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Deepens
Meanwhile, Gaza continues to endure heavy bombardment. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 81 Palestinians in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with more than 200 others injured. In one attack, two people were killed, and six others were wounded when Israeli forces targeted a school in Gaza City’s al-Zeitoun neighborhood that was sheltering displaced families.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 46,788 Palestinians and wounded 110,453, according to official figures. The Israeli siege has pushed Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe, with millions lacking access to food, clean water, and medical supplies.
U.S. Support Fuels Israeli Aggression, HRW Report Says
The violence in Gaza has reignited criticism of the United States’ unwavering support for Israel. A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accused U.S. President Joe Biden of applying a ‘double standard’ on human rights. The report noted that Biden’s administration provided $17.9 billion in security aid to Israel and approved over 100 arms deals during the Gaza conflict, while condemning Russia for similar actions in Ukraine.
HRW’s 2025 World Report underscored the inconsistency of liberal democracies like the U.S. in defending human rights, arguing that such actions erode their legitimacy and embolden authoritarian regimes worldwide.
