Netanyahu postpones signing of cease-fire agreement, claims Hamas has backed out of some conditions
Sources from the terrorist group claim that they have not backed out of any point of the truce pact. Religious Finance Minister Smotrich plans to resign from the government over the agreement.
Netanyahu, at the United Nations General Assembly.
Israel's Prime Minister's Office announced this morning via a statement that the security cabinet vote and thus official approval of the cease-fire agreement with Hamas has been postponed.
The reason given by Benjamin Netanyahu for delaying the approval of the truce in the Gaza Strip is that Hamas has backed out of some conditions of the agreement. This would have happened at the last minute and without notice, thus postponing the truce indefinitely.
"Hamas is reneging on the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis that is preventing an agreement," Netanyahu's office said in its statement Thursday. "The Israeli cabinet will not meet until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement," it concluded.
For his part, Izzat el-Risheq, a senior Hamas official, denies, according to the Times of Israel, allegations that the terrorist group has backed out of some details of the agreement. The truce, in addition to involving a cease-fire, also provides for the release of hostages and the release of convicted criminals serving sentences in Israel.
Smotrich's resignation
According to Kan Public Broadcasting, the cabinet meeting, scheduled for this Thursday has also been delayed because of the debate within the Religious Zionism party over its continuation in the coalition government.
It is expected that in the next few hours it will be known whether the Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, will announce his resignation or whether he will continue in the Executive. The same report indicated that Netanyahu will not convene the cabinet meeting until Smotrich makes a decision.
The Religious Zionism party condemned the cease-fire agreement with Hamas, which it has called "bad and dangerous." Smotrich fears that supporting the deal could undermine his popularity among his base and potential voters.
Earlier Monday, a demonstration was called in Israel in front of the executive headquarters to protest the cease-fire. It is organized by an association of relatives of soldiers killed in the conflict with Hamas.
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