Tel Aviv: After the news of Hamas backing out from some of Israel's conditions regarding the Gaza ceasefire at the last moment, a new claim has been made by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Netanyahu says that Israeli officials are close to an agreement to release the hostages. Earlier, there were reports of the Gaza ceasefire agreement hanging in the balance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday alleged that Hamas "backed out at the last moment from some of the agreements made between the two sides", due to which the much-awaited ceasefire agreement to end the long-running war in the Gaza Strip and pave the way for the release of hundreds of hostages is hanging in balance.

Let us tell you that soon after the announcement of the completion of this agreement by US President Joe Biden and the main mediator Qatar, a statement issued by Netanyahu's office indicated complications in the agreement. Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of reneging on some of the terms of the agreement to get more concessions. The office made it clear that the Netanyahu government will not hold a meeting to seal the cease-fire agreement until Hamas gives up its stubborn stance. The office said, "Hamas is backing out of the agreement and creating a crisis at the last moment, due to which the agreement is not being reached."

Talks continue regarding ceasefire in Qatar

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said a delegation of Israeli negotiators was in Qatar and "continued efforts to reach a solution." Meanwhile, Izzat al-Rashq, a senior Hamas official, said his organization was "committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators." Outgoing US President Joe Biden and Qatar, a key mediator, announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, the terms of which include the phased release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Israel, allowing thousands of displaced people from Gaza to return and ensuring the supply of essential humanitarian aid to the region. Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of reneging on a previous agreement, which later gave Israel the right to decide which Palestinian prisoners convicted of murder would be released in exchange for Israeli hostages.