Last minute hang-ups reportedly threaten Gaza ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Thursday accused the Gaza-based terrorist group of trying to squirm out of some parts of the ceasefire agreement, the Associated Press reported. The news comes a day after U.S. President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, and others on Wednesday hailed a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas as a success.

Biden said on Wednesday that the agreement followed the outlines of a ceasefire deal he proposed last summer. That proposed agreement required Hamas to incrementally release the remaining 98 hostages in Gaza while Israel gradually wound down its military operations in the area.

Did Netanyahu’s office issue a formal statement confirming Hamas’ cold feet? It was unclear whether Netanyahu’s statements were part of a negotiating strategy or if they signaled a collapse in peace talks, the Associated Press reported. On Thursday morning, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement thanking President-elect Trump and President Biden for their assistance in advancing the release of the hostages. However, the statement didn’t say whether the proposed deal was in jeopardy.

The Times of Israel on Thursday published what it claimed was a full copy of the text of the agreement.

Dig deeper: Read William Inboden’s column in WORLD Opinions celebrating the existence of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, even if it is tenuous.