Hamas denies Israeli claims of group backtracking on Gaza cease-fire deal

Senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri denied on Thursday Israeli accusations that the Palestinian militant group had reneged on parts of a Gaza cease-fire and hostage release agreement announced just a day earlier.

“There is no basis to (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s claims about the movement backtracking from terms in the cease-fire agreement,” Abu Zuhri told Agence France-Presse (AFP), responding to allegations from the Israeli government.

Cabinet won’t meet on cease-fire, Netanyahu says Hamas must yield

The statement comes amid escalating tensions as Netanyahu’s office announced that his Cabinet would not meet to approve the agreement until Hamas withdrew what it described as a “last minute crisis.”

Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of attempting “to extort last-minute concessions,” though no specifics were provided about the alleged changes to the agreement.

The Israeli Cabinet had been scheduled to ratify the cease-fire deal on Thursday, which aims to end weeks of hostilities and secure the release of hostages. However, the process has now been stalled, further complicating diplomatic efforts to achieve a resolution.

Israeli far-right Zionist party seeks assurance for continued operations against Hamas

The far-right Religious Zionism Party, led by Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has conditionally approved the first phase of a cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement concerning Gaza. The announcement comes amid internal political tensions within the governing coalition.

In a statement released by the party, the far-right party expressed continued opposition to the agreement, despite supporting efforts to secure the return of Israeli captives. The statement emphasized that the party’s stance against the deal remained firm while acknowledging its conditional support for the initial stage.

Smotrich, known for his hardline views, reportedly demanded that Netanyahu ensure a return to military operations against Hamas to achieve both the destruction of the group and the release of hostages. The party has tied its continued participation in the coalition to a post-agreement focus on demonstrating “resolve” and achieving “victory.”