On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas was delaying Israel's approval of a long-awaited ceasefire, which would stop the fighting in Gaza and lead to the release of many hostages. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 72 people in the already devastated Gaza Strip.

Hours after US President Joe Biden and crucial mediator Qatar declared the accord final, Netanyahu started to hint at problems. World leaders, the relatives of hostages held in Gaza, and war-weary Palestinians all praised the agreement, which is set to start on Sunday, despite Netanyahu's insistence that it is not yet finalised. This created a dual reality. It was unclear whether Netanyahu's statements were just an attempt to maintain unity within his divided coalition or if the deal was actually in danger. Netanyahu's office said that his Cabinet won't approve the deal until Hamas agrees to the terms, accusing the group of breaking parts of the agreement to try and get more concessions, though they didn't provide further details. Senior Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq stated that the terrorist organisation is dedicated to the ceasefire deal that the mediators declared.

The agreement, which was made public on Wednesday, would see the release of numerous hostages who had been detained in Gaza and a halt in hostilities in an effort to ultimately end the 15-month conflict that has caused instability in the Middle East and triggered protests around the world. Hamas started the conflict on October 7, 2023, with a cross-border attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a heavy military offensive that has resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials. These officials don’t separate civilians from militants but report that more than half of the victims are women and children. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 fighters, although they have not provided evidence. The ongoing military action has destroyed large parts of Gaza, forcing around 90% of its 2.3 million residents to flee their homes. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are now living in crowded refugee camps on the coast, facing hunger and disease, according to United Nations officials.

Netanyahu's office recently accused Hamas of going back on an agreement that would have allowed Israel to decide which prisoners convicted of murder would be released in exchange for hostages. The Israeli prime minister is under a lot of pressure from his citizens to bring the hostages home. However, his far-right coalition partners have warned that they will bring down his government if he agrees to too many concessions. Although Netanyahu has enough support from opposition members to approve an agreement without the far-right partners, doing so would weaken his coalition.

One of his far-right allies, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, has already opposed the deal. Another, Bezalel Smotrich, posted on X late Wednesday that he demands complete assurance that Israel will be able to resume the war later. He called the current deal harmful and dangerous for Israel. Both factions leaving would cause the government to become extremely unstable and might result in early elections.

Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombings overnight while people were celebrating the ceasefire agreement. In past conflicts, both sides have often increased military actions in the final hours before a ceasefire to show their strength. We expected that the occupation would step up the bombing, just like they always do when there are reports about progress in the truce talks said Mohammed Mahdi, who fled his home a few months ago and is now taking shelter in Gaza City. Ahmed Mattar, who lives near Al-Ahly Hospital in the city, said he heard heavy airstrikes overnight. Gaza's Health Ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 72 people since the ceasefire deal was announced. This number only includes the bodies taken to two hospitals in Gaza City, and the actual death toll is likely higher.

"Yesterday was a bloody day, and today is bloodier," said Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the ministry's registration department. An Associated Press reporter on the Israeli side of the border near Gaza also heard more airstrikes and artillery fire on Thursday.

The agreement agreed Wednesday calls for the release of 33 of the approximately 100 hostages still in Gaza over the course of the next six weeks in return for hundreds of Palestinians who Israel has imprisoned. Humanitarian aid would increase, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians would be free to return to what remains of their homes, and Israeli forces would withdraw from numerous places. The remaining hostages, including male soldiers, will be released in a second phase, which will be harder to negotiate and will happen after the first phase. Hamas has stated that it will not release the rest of the captives unless there is a lasting ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.

On the other hand, Israel has made it clear that it will continue fighting until Hamas is dismantled and will maintain control over the territory for security reasons. The agreement, which was reached after a year of intense negotiations with numerous setbacks, is due to be implemented by mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, who are scheduled to meet in Cairo on Thursday.

In the final weeks of the talks, Donald Trump's Mideast envoy, who was the president-elect at the time, joined in, and both the outgoing administration and Trump's team are taking credit for the agreement. There are still many long-term issues to address in Gaza after the war, such as who will govern the area and manage the complex task of rebuilding. Israel has faced strong international criticism, including from its main ally, the United States, over the high civilian death toll in Gaza.

Israel also holds Hamas responsible for the casualties, accusing the group of using schools, hospitals, and residential areas for military purposes. Hamas, a militant group that does not recognise Israel's right to exist, has been under immense pressure from Israeli military actions. These actions have included the invasion of Gaza's main cities and towns and the seizure of the border between Gaza and Egypt. Many of its top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who is thought to have played a major role in planning the October 7, 2023 attack, have been killed. However, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, its fighters have regrouped in some of the most severely affected districts, increasing the likelihood of a protracted insurgency should the war continue.