Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Thursday that a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas was delaying the approval of a highly anticipated agreement to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of captives. 

Netanyahu's office stated that the Israeli Cabinet would not convene to approve the agreement until Hamas retracted the alleged recent demands. The Israeli government accused Hamas of reneging on certain aspects of the deal to extract further concessions. 

Simultaneously, 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.

Internal pressure

Related News

'Israel' bombed area where to-be-released captive is held: Abu Obeida

Countries, International bodies rejoice, welcome Gaza ceasefire deal

This comes as Netanyahu faces mounting internal pressures in light of the ceasefire deal. His key far-right allies have expressed strong opposition to the deal even though it would get the captives out of Gaza.

Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has publicly rejected the agreement, while Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, voiced his concerns on X late Wednesday. Smotrich called the deal "bad and dangerous” for the Israeli occupation and demanded "absolute certainty" that the military could resume operations in Gaza if necessary.

The departure of Ben Gvir's and Smotrich's factions from Netanyahu's coalition would destabilize the government, potentially leading to early elections, which is enough incentive for him to keep genociding Palestinians. 

Aggression intensifies

The Israeli occupation intensified its aggression on the Gaza Strip right as a ceasefire was announced, launching indiscriminate airstrikes and massacring tens of Palestinians across the besieged enclave. 

Israeli airstrikes on two separate houses in the Shujaiya neighborhood and the vicinity of the Patient Friends Association Hospital, two little girls were killed. Meanwhile, rescue teams were able to recover five martyrs and over 10 injured Palestinians from beneath the rubble of a house bombarded by the IOF in al-Rimal. 

Two Palestinians were in an airstrike on a building at the Sha'biyyah intersection in Gaza City by the occupation, according to our correspondent.