DOHA/JERUSALEM. Israel postponed the approval of a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, intended to halt hostilities in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of hostages. Despite the delay, the United States expressed confidence that the deal would proceed as planned, potentially taking effect on Sunday.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continued to escalate on Thursday, with Palestinian authorities reporting at least 86 fatalities following the announcement of the truce.
The Israeli cabinet, initially expected to vote on the deal on Thursday, deferred the meeting, citing complications attributed to Hamas. Local media indicated that the vote could occur on Friday or Saturday, with the agreement likely to be approved.
John Kirby, a White House spokesperson, stated, “We are seeing nothing that would tell us that this is going to get derailed at this point. ” He affirmed that the ceasefire in the 15-month-long conflict remained on track and could begin “as soon as late this weekend.”
A coalition representing the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza, 33 of whom are slated for release in the initial six-week phase of the agreement, appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expedite the process. “For the 98 hostages, each night is another night of terrible nightmare. Do not delay their return even for one more night,” the group declared in a statement shared by Israeli media.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged lingering issues in the negotiations. According to an anonymous U.S. official, a dispute over the identities of prisoners Hamas sought to include in the release had caused the delay. American envoys, alongside Egyptian and Qatari mediators, were actively addressing the matter in Doha.
Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Izzat el-Reshiq reiterated the group’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement, signaling continued willingness to implement the terms.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, the international community awaits confirmation of the truce, which could mark a pivotal step toward easing the ongoing conflict in the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
