The Israeli Government postponed this Thursday the approval of the ceasefire in the Gaza Stripclaiming that Hamas backed down on some points of the agreement and created “a last-minute crisis.” Hamas, on the other hand, denies Israel and guarantees that it is committed to the agreement announced by the mediators. The impasse is blocking negotiations, at a time when Israel continues to drop bombs on Gaza.
“Hamas is rejecting parts of the agreement reached with mediators and Israel, to force last-minute concessions”accused the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement released this morning. The Israeli prime minister also says that the government he leads will not meet to ratify the ceasefire agreement “until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all points of the agreement.”
Israel and Hamas reached an agreement this Wednesday for a ceasefire, after 15 months of war. The agreement, announced by Qatar and confirmed by the United States, provides for a 42-day truce starting Sunday, as well as the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for a thousand Palestinian prisoners and an increase in humanitarian aid in the region. However, the “final details” of the agreement are still being negotiated.
O Israeli government was due to meet this Thursday to ratify the agreement. Benjamin Netanyahu had warned, after the ceasefire announcement, that there were still several points of the agreement that had not been finalized, but that he hoped to resolve these issues this Thursday morning, before the meeting of the Council of Ministers.
In response to Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusations, the Hamas made it known that it maintains its intention to comply with the agreement launched. “We are committed to the ceasefire and to what was agreed and announced by the brokers”said Izzat el-Reshiq, a senior Hamas official, cited by international agencies.
Source: www.jornaldenegocios.pt
