Gaza ceasefire deal sealed, hit by 'last-minute' hiccup

Israel's cabinet will vote on Friday to formalize the Gaza peace deal, an official said on Thursday, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a "last-minute crisis" had arisen after Hamas put forth new conditions, threatening to hold up the long-awaited ceasefire in one of the deadliest conflicts in recent years.

- Agencies

JERUSALEM: Israeli airstrikes, meanwhile, killed at least 77 people in the war-ravaged territory.

Netanyahu, earlier on Thursday, signaled there were issues with the deal shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden and key mediator Qatar announced it was complete. That created a dual reality: War-weary Palestinians in Gaza, the relatives of hostages held there and world leaders all welcomed an agreement, expected to begin Sunday, even as Netanyahu said it was not yet finalized.

It was not yet clear if Netanyahu's statements merely reflected jockeying to keep his fractious coalition together or whether the deal was at risk.

Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions, without elaborating.

Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, said the militant group "is committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators." The deal announced Wednesday would see scores of hostages held in Gaza released and a pause in fighting with a view to eventually wind down a 15-month war that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.

Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.

The military campaign has also leveled vast swaths of Gaza, and pushed around 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people from their homes.