A long-awaited ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas hit an unexpected snag Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed the cabinet’s vote, citing a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas backtracking on certain terms.
Despite the delay, Israeli forces have intensified operations in Gaza, with at least 81 Palestinians killed in the past 24 hours according to Gaza health officials. The continued violence casts a shadow over the proposed three-phase agreement that was meant to begin this Sunday.
Key Points of the Proposed Deal
The agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, outlines an 84-day plan:
- Initial 6-week pause in fighting
- Release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners
- Entry of roughly 600 humanitarian aid trucks daily into Gaza
- Gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas
- Permission for displaced Palestinians to return north
Current Situation
The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with over 46,700 Palestinian deaths reported since October 2023. The European Union has announced a new €120 million aid package to address critical shortages of food, medicine, and shelter.
Next Steps
If implemented, the deal would mark the first significant pause in hostilities since late 2023, when a previous agreement led to the release of about 100 hostages. However, Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners have declined to support the current agreement, highlighting ongoing political tensions within the Israeli government.
