Netanyahu's office said Hamas attempted blackmail over a series of agreements
The radical Palestinian movement Hamas is reneging on agreements with Israel in a deal to release hostages and ceasefire, resorting to last-minute blackmail. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on January 16.
"Hamas is backing away from explicit agreements reached with mediators and Israel in a last-minute blackmail attempt," the prime minister's office said in a statement quoted by Ynet.
The office indicated that the movement is trying to create a crisis at the last minute that prevents an agreement. Netanyahu's office said that an Israeli government meeting will not be scheduled until mediators confirm that Hamas accepts all the details of the agreements.
The Gaza cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel was announced Jan. 15 by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdel Rahman Al-Thani. The first phase will last 42 days, during which 33 Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the release of hostages to freedom under the agreement will take several weeks. At the time, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the military was preparing to receive the freed hostages.
US President-elect Donald Trump linked the agreement to his election victory. The Republican noted that the national security part of his administration will continue to work with Israel and allies "to make sure that Gaza never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists."
The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian Hamas movement launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.
