Israel has delayed the implementation of a ceasefire agreement with the militant Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, pending the release of hostages, but the United States still expects the deal to take effect as planned on Sunday.
In the Gaza Strip itself, Israeli warplanes continued their intense airstrikes, and the Palestinian authorities announced on Thursday evening that at least 86 people had been killed the day after the announcement of the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of not intending to adhere to the agreement. The Hamas, in turn, questioned parts of the agreement, “to press for last-minute concessions” according to a statement from its office. The Hamas denied the accusation, saying it stood by the agreement.
Israeli media reported that the internal crisis within the coalition was the main reason for Netanyahu’s postponement of the security cabinet meeting, not disagreements with Hamas.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the chairman of the Jewish Strength party, had already announced on Tuesday that he opposed the deal, calling it a capitulation to Hamas. He called on Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionism party to join him in leaving the coalition if the cabinet approves the agreement. If both parties were to leave Netanyahu’s coalition, it would no longer have a majority in the Knesset. Demonstrators from religious-Zionist and settler groups also called on Thursday in front of the Knesset for the continuation of the war and urged Smotrich not to agree to the deal.