‘Last-minute crisis’ with Hamas holding up truce: Netanyahu

As the world welcomed the announcement of truce between Israel and Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said that a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited agreement to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release of dozens of its hostages.

Netanyahu’s office said his Cabinet won't meet to approve the agreement until Hamas backs down, accusing it of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions. On the other hand, Izzat al-Rashq, a senior Hamas official, said the militant group “was committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators.”

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Thursday Israeli strikes have killed at least 72 people since a ceasefire deal was announced. In previous conflicts, both sides stepped up military operations in the final hours before ceasefire took effect as a way to project strength.

The ministry said the toll from Thursday's strikes only includes bodies brought to two hospitals in Gaza City, and that the actual toll was likely to be higher. “Yesterday was a bloody day, and today is bloodier,” said Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the ministry's registration department.