A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the press that a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas had not been finalized. The spokesperson attributed the delay to Hamas introducing last-minute conditions to the proposed deal.
The spokesperson stated that the negotiation team was actively working towards reaching a resolution, emphasizing that the agreement's details were still being ironed out. The spokesperson expressed disappointment over Hamas altering the terms of the agreement after what was believed to be a prior understanding.
According to the spokesperson, the Israeli Cabinet was unable to convene for a vote on the proposed cease-fire deal due to the unresolved issues. The mediators were expected to confirm Hamas' acceptance of all previously agreed-upon elements before the Israeli Cabinet could proceed with the deal.
The security cabinet of Israel had scheduled a meeting to discuss and vote on the cease-fire proposal mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. The proposed agreement entailed the release of 33 vulnerable captives by Hamas in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in the initial phase.
However, objections arose from Netanyahu's coalition members and officials regarding the agreement's terms. They raised concerns about the delayed release of an additional 65 hostages held by Hamas, as the deal stipulated negotiations for their release to commence 16 days after the cease-fire's implementation on Sunday.
The agreement, if finalized, could potentially lead to the release of up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the 33 hostages and a cessation of hostilities.
