Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed the ratification of a Gaza ceasefire deal, accusing Hamas of holding out for concessions until the last minute.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government would not meet to formally approve the deal until the militant group accepts all the terms agreed.
Hamas is holding out for concessions until the last minute, the prime minister’s office said in a statement. It did not specify what those concessions were. The Israeli government had been expected to hold a cabinet meeting this morning to formally ratify the ceasefire agreement reached late Wednesday, but that meeting has now been postponed.
The three-phase ceasefire deal reached yesterday, after months of negotiations, would come into force on Sunday if it is fully ratified.
At least 70 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip since Thursday, Palestinian health officials said.
The six-week ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group is aimed at halting 15 months of fighting. It also includes the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The first phase of the deal calls for a 42-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages.
