The cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Hamas appears to be on hold, with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office alleging that the terrorist group has introduced a “last-minute crisis” by making demands over the prisoners it wants released as part of the deal.
In a statement Thursday, Netanyahu’s office said the agreed upon deal “gives Israel veto power over the release of mass murderers who are symbols of terror” and that Hamas now “demands to dictate the identity of these terrorists,” according to local news reports.
“Hamas is reneging on the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis that is preventing an agreement,” the statement continues.
Netanyahu’s office said Israel “will not set a date for a cabinet and government meeting until the mediators announce that Hamas has approved all details of the agreement.” He urged the negotiating team to “stand firm on the agreed understandings” of the deal.
A senior Hamas leader said the terror group remains “committed” to the deal, according to reports.
This latest snag in approving the agreement comes as Israel has released a new video of Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya seemingly responding to it by reaffirming the October 7 terrorist attack as a “source of pride” and vowing not to surrender, according to the New York Post.
“What occurred on October 7—a miraculous military and security achievement by the elite Qassam Brigades—will remain a source of pride for our people,” he said, according to a translation of the video, in which he also accused Israel of engaging in “Nazi crimes.”
“We will never forget or forgive those who participated in this genocide,” he said, according to the Post. “Justice will b served to these criminals, even if delayed. … Our enemy will see no moment of weakness or surrender from us.”
Leaders of Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization on Wednesday agreed to the outlines of the long-sought cease-fire that would pause the brutal 15-month military campaign in Gaza launched in response to the October 7 terror attack.
The deal, which needs to be ratified by Israel’s cabinet, comes after months of negotiations between the two sides over a multi-phased plan that would include the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
President Joe Biden announced the deal from the White House on Wednesday, saying it comes after more than “15 months of terror for the hostages, their families, the Israeli people” and “15 months of suffering by the innocent people of Gaza.”
“We’ve had many difficult days since Hamas began its terrible war. We’ve encountered roadblocks and setbacks. We’ve not given up. And now, after more than 400 days of struggle, the day of success has arrived,” said Biden, who called the negotiations “one of the toughest” of his career.
Biden, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said the plan the two sides have agreed to is based on the exact framework of a three-phase plan his administration laid out in May. “We got the world to endorse it,” he said.
The first phase calls for a six-week cease-fire, during which Hamas is to release 33 female hostages, older men and hostages who are ill. Biden said some Americans will be released during that phase, “and the vice president and I cannot wait to welcome them home.”
Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and withdraw its forces from populated areas of Gaza. Under the initial framework, Israel would also bring in tens of thousands of temporary homes, and hundreds of thousands of tents into Gaza, according to the New York Times. Hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid would also be allowed to enter Gaza daily.
The two sides will declare a permanent end of the war during the second phase of the plan, which would include Israel withdrawing the rest of its forces from Gaza and Hamas exchanging its remaining hostages in return for more prisoners.
“The plan says, if the negotiations take longer than six weeks, the cease-fire will continue as long as the negotiations continue,” Biden said.
In the third and final phase, Hamas will return any remains it still has of hostages it killed “and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin,” the president said.
Biden said the cease-fire was possible in part because of continued pressure from Israel, which was backed by the U.S. He said senior Hamas leaders are dead, the terror network that supported Hamas is weaker, and Iran is “weaker than it’s been in decades.”
“With nowhere to turn, Hamas finally agreed to releasing hostages” Biden said, adding that “there was no other way for this war to end than with a hostage deal.”
The cease-fire was brokered by Qatari and Egyptian mediators and backed by the Biden administration. One major sticking point over the months-long negotiations was that Hamas leaders were demanding that Israel commit to ending the war.
The deal comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House. Trump previously said there would be “all hell to pay” if the hostages held by Hamas weren’t released by his January 20 inauguration. A weekend meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s incoming envoy to the Middle East, was a key to convincing Netanyahu to accept the deal, Fox News reported.
Trump praised the cease-fire on Truth Social as an “EPIC” agreement that “could only have happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.”
“This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World!” Trump continued. “We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!”
Biden said his team has coordinated with Trump’s team, which will be tasked with helping to implement the deal. As Biden was leaving the press briefing Wednesday, a reporter called out, asking who deserves credit for the deal, him or Trump.
Biden turned, and with a smirk, asked: “Is that a joke?”
Celebrations have broken out in Gaza, with large crowds of cheering people taking to to the streets in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to the Associated Press.
After news reports of the deal first started coming, Netanyahu’s office said they were premature, as the final details are still being sorted out, according to the Associated Press.
A last-minute dispute over security arrangements along Gaza’s border with Egypt caused a temporary delay in securing the cease-fire agreement, the AP reported. Netanyahu released a statement that “Hamas folded on its last-minute demand to change the deployment of IDF forces in the Philadelphi Corridor.” Hamas leaders called Israel’s allegations “nonsense.”