Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu remarked on Thursday that a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas was impeding the Israeli government’s endorsement of a much-anticipated truce aimed at halting the fighting in the Gaza Strip and securing the release of numerous captives. By Thursday afternoon, Israel had still not formally confirmed the ceasefire-hostage exchange agreement publicized a day earlier by mediators, insisting that certain points had yet to be finalized and accusing Hamas of introducing unexpected complications late in the talks.

Mossad Director David Barnea, leading Israel’s negotiating efforts and sent to Doha on Motzoei Shabbos, remained in the Qatari capital as of Thursday afternoon, as stated by an official acquainted with the discussions.

The United States and Qatar — the mediators of this accord — announced on Wednesday evening that an arrangement had been reached to conclude the 15-month conflict in Gaza set off by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 offensive. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refrained from making a public statement, explaining that he would only speak once the stipulations were fully settled.

Despite this, the majority of Israeli authorities conveyed that the deal was virtually complete, shifting attention to the internal political dispute ahead of the anticipated votes in the cabinet and the security cabinet, which were postponed by at least a few hours.

On Thursday morning, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement accusing Hamas of going back on certain commitments and causing a “crisis” in wrapping up the arrangement.

“Hamas is reneging on the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis that is preventing an agreement,” the PMO said in a statement issued in both English and Hebrew. “The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement.”

Reports in the Israeli press offered a different reason for the government’s delay, pointing to efforts to win over the far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who, together with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, has threatened to withdraw from the coalition if the conflict is halted.

Later that night, the Prime Minister’s Office clarified that the disagreement stemmed from the plan to free Palestinian security inmates, citing “a last-minute attempt by Hamas to withdraw from a clause in the agreement that grants Israel veto power over the release of mass murderers who are symbols of terrorism.” It noted that Hamas was “demanding to dictate the identity of these murderers,” in defiance of existing understandings.

A leaked version of the arrangement, later verified by The Times of Israel, included a provision that detainees would be freed “based on lists agreed upon by both sides.”

After the Israeli government released its statement, senior Hamas member Izzat el-Risheq declared that the group remained committed to the ceasefire arrangement revealed by mediators on Wednesday.

An Israeli figure outside Netanyahu’s office indicated that the prime minister was publicizing breakdowns in the negotiations and postponing the official pronouncement of the agreement, which his negotiating team already approved, to preserve his governing coalition.

According to this Israeli official, certain elements remain under discussion but are comparatively minor and should be resolved within hours. Asked why Netanyahu had acted as he did since the deal was announced, the official attributed it to “coalition politics.”

In a separate development, a high-ranking diplomatic representative denied reports on Thursday that Israel had accepted a step-by-step retreat from the Philadelphi Corridor bordering Gaza and Egypt starting at the beginning of the ceasefire.

The official stated that Israeli forces would maintain their presence in the area “throughout the entire first stage, all 42 days.” The same official indicated that the quantity of soldiers would not change, “but will be distributed in a different manner, including outposts, patrols, observation points and control along the entire route.”

Only from the 16th day of the first phase, the official clarified, would talks begin regarding ending the war, and “if Hamas does not agree to Israeli demands to end the war, Israel will remain in the Philadelphi Corridor also on the 42nd day and also the 50th day.”

In practical terms, the official insisted, “Israel is staying in Philadelphi until further notice.”

The leaked text of the deal reveals that the Israeli side “will gradually reduce the forces in the corridor area during stage 1 based on the accompanying maps and the agreement between both sides.” According to the same document, on day 42 “Israeli forces will begin their withdrawal and complete it no later than day 50.”

Under the agreement’s conditions, during the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, 33 Israeli captives would be progressively set free — including two who have been detained in Gaza for an extended period.

During this stage, Israel is expected to withdraw in phases from densely populated sections of the Gaza Strip, such as the Netzarim Corridor in the middle, and redeploy along a 700-meter perimeter bordering Gaza. Once every female hostage from the first phase has been released, the Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt will open, allowing civilians and the wounded to depart Gaza for other nations, and the gradual return of civilians to northern Gaza would commence a week into the arrangement.

Starting on the 16th day of the initial phase, negotiators plan to discuss the second phase of the agreement, which aims to free the remaining 65 hostages.

{Matzav.com Israel}