Netanyahu Cancels Thursday Cabinet Meeting: No Vote on Gaza Truce Planned

In a recent announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his cabinet will not convene as planned to approve the Gaza ceasefire deal, attributing the decision to a “last-minute crisis” caused by Hamas. This news comes as tensions remain high in the region, with the ceasefire originally scheduled to take effect on Sunday.

Netanyahu’s statement emphasized that Hamas has failed to uphold parts of the agreement negotiated with mediators and Israel, aiming to extract further concessions at the last minute. “The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement,” he asserted.

In response to this development, senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq declared that the Palestinian group remains committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by mediators on Wednesday. This indicates that there may be differing narratives regarding the ceasefire’s status.

According to Israel’s broadcaster Kan, a significant factor contributing to the postponement of the cabinet meeting was the lack of communication from far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding his party’s stance on the agreement. Smotrich has reportedly threatened to withdraw his party from the coalition if the deal proceeds, citing concerns over its implications for Israel’s security.

Earlier in the week, several Israeli families, along with their supporters, staged a sit-in outside Netanyahu’s office. They urged the cabinet to reject any prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, fearing it would compromise Israel’s safety. Yehoshua Shani, father of a soldier killed in the conflict, passionately stated, “Do not sign a deal that means surrender, sacrificing the remaining kidnapped and giving up Israel’s security.”

Al Jazeera’s correspondent Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, noted the absence of any leaks suggesting that Hamas is retracting its commitments in the ceasefire agreement. She pointed out that the real conflict appears to be within Netanyahu’s government, particularly among members of the Religious Zionist Party, led by Smotrich.

Netanyahu faces immense pressure domestically to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. However, the threat of his far-right coalition partners collapsing the government looms if he makes significant concessions. Reports from Haaretz indicate that the Israeli security cabinet is now set to meet on Friday morning to deliberate on the Gaza ceasefire deal.

After this critical meeting, a vote on the agreement is expected, but Israeli ministers have not yet been summoned for discussions. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism about the agreement’s implementation, stating, “I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation will begin, as we said, on Sunday.”

Continued Attacks on Gaza

Despite the announcement of a potential ceasefire, Israeli forces have significantly intensified their bombardment in Gaza, resulting in at least 81 casualties in the past 24 hours, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The violence has led to over 200 injuries as well.

One particularly devastating attack targeted a school sheltering displaced individuals in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City, where two people were killed, and six were injured, as reported by Civil Defence.

Additionally, a deadly strike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, claimed the lives of 20 Palestinians, including children and women. One young survivor recounted, “As we were celebrating the ceasefire announcement, the Israeli warplanes took us by surprise. I woke up to find myself lying in hospital with head injuries.”

Another resident, Abdullah Khadr, shared his harrowing experience: “As I was about to sleep, I heard a loud explosion. I ran out to find the whole building next to me levelled to the ground; nothing but rubble, dust and smoke rising to the dark skies.”

Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023, the toll has been staggering, with Palestinian health authorities reporting at least 46,788 fatalities and over 110,453 injuries due to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

As the situation continues to develop, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that can bring lasting peace to the region.