Image Source FMT | Copyright AFP
Israel has delayed the vote on the Gaza peace treaty. Several hostages were released and fighting in Gaza was halted after the Cabinet postponed the vote on a ceasefire agreement.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a critical cabinet meeting in a dramatic turn of events. A “loose end” is being tidied up and the ceasefire will still start on Sunday.
He called the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas “reckless” as well as an affront to national security.
He said his party, Otzma Yehudit, would quit if the deal was approved, undermining the war’s achievements. He argued that the ceasefire was a sign of weakness and would not lead to a lasting peace. He vowed to continue to fight for the safety of the people of Israel.
Netanyahu charged that Hamas was attempting to “extort last-minute concessions” ahead of the Thursday morning meeting.
Before the cabinet meeting, Hamas would need to approve “all elements of the agreement,” according to a statement from his office. With such a “challenging” situation, Blinken said, such a delay was to be expected.
As of Wednesday, Israeli strikes had killed 86 people and injured 258.
