Israel’s cabinet has postponed the vote on a ceasefire agreement concerning the Gaza Strip, stating that it will not proceed until Hamas agrees to all terms.
The Israeli government alleges that Hamas is attempting to introduce new elements to the agreement at the final hour, reported BBC on Thursday (16 January).
The vote was initially scheduled for the morning, but hours before it was to take place, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced its suspension.
In a statement, Netanyahu accused Hamas of trying to "force concessions" at the last moment. Consequently, the cabinet will not vote until Hamas agrees to all the conditions laid out in the agreement.
On the previous evening, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani officially announced the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Doha.
The ceasefire was later confirmed separately by US President Joe Biden, while Donald Trump, the newly elected president of the United States, made several posts on social media regarding the truce.
The ceasefire, aimed at ending the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas, was primarily brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
It is scheduled to come into effect on Sunday (19 January).
However, the agreement, despite Israel’s negotiators agreeing to it in Doha, requires approval from the security cabinet and the government to be implemented.
Following Netanyahu’s announcement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that an "incomplete part" had been added to the agreement but expressed confidence that the ceasefire would still be enforced as planned from Sunday.
