Hamas accuses 'Israel' of stalling Gaza ceasefire implementation
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Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri accused "Israel" of deliberately stalling the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement by making baseless claims and delaying approval through mediators.
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Israeli army APCs are moving along the separation line with the Gaza Strip in southern occupied Palestine, on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (AP)
The implementation of the newly agreed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is facing hurdles, with senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri accusing "Israel" of attempting to stall the process.
Abu Zuhri dismissed statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office as unfounded, noting they were aimed at obstructing progress.
Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu's office alleged that Hamas was violating parts of the ceasefire agreement and seeking additional concessions at the last minute.
The Israeli occupation announced it would withhold approval of the agreement until mediators confirmed Hamas's full compliance with all its terms.
"These statements have no basis whatsoever. They represent an Israeli attempt to slow down the implementation of the agreement," Abu Zuhri told RIA Novosti.
Rising tensions
In light of these delays, Israeli airstrikes continued to devastate the territory, killing dozens.
Gaza's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 72 people since the ceasefire deal was announced. Ministry officials noted that this figure included only bodies transported to two hospitals in Gaza City and warned that the actual death toll was likely higher.
"Yesterday was a bloody day, and today is bloodier," said Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the ministry's registration department.
Read more: Netanyahu claims 'last minute crisis' impeding Gaza ceasefire deal
Cautious optimism
On a related note, the Biden administration said it is optimistic about the full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement by Sunday, despite delays caused by the Israeli occupation's approval process.
In an interview with CNN, Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer addressed potential challenges in implementing the agreement, stating that complications in such deals are expected, particularly "when there is literally zero trust between the two parties to the agreement."
Finer, however, expressed confidence in the timeline laid out by mediators and stakeholders. "We fully expect the deal to be implemented as described by the president and by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar yesterday, and on the timeline that was described," he said.
"What we're doing now is working through details of implementation."
Finer noted that the US has maintained "very close touch with the mediators" and the Israeli occupation.
