Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says 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 dozens of hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office alleged that Hamas had backed out on parts of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal agreed Wednesday, potentially delaying a truce between the two sides that was set to go into effect on Sunday—a day before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages until Hamas backs down from what it called a “last minute crisis.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to mediate an end to the war sparked by Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023. A deal has finally been reached.

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 said that his Cabinet will not meet to approve the truce deal, to pause the war in Gaza and release hostages, until Hamas steps back. Israel has accused the mil

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied on Wednesday that Hamas had agreed to the Gaza ceasefire proposal from Qatari mediators, after an Israeli official said the Palestinian militant group had given its approval.

Hamas has reneged on parts of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal that was already agreed upon, and is creating a last-minute crisis that prevents the completion of the accord, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.