Israel’s cabinet has postponed a crucial vote on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release agreement until Saturday, with the smaller security cabinet set to vote on the deal on Friday, CNN reported.
An Israeli official confirmed the rescheduling, noting that the full cabinet vote, initially planned for Thursday, will now occur on January 18. The security cabinet’s Friday vote will serve as a preliminary step ahead of the broader government decision.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to threats from coalition members to quit the government if the ceasefire deal is approved. In a translated post on X (formerly Twitter), Lapid urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to be swayed by such threats.
“I say to Benjamin Netanyahu, don’t be afraid or intimidated. You will get every safety net you need to make the hostage deal. This is more important than any disagreement we’ve ever had,” Lapid wrote.
Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, has strongly criticized the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, labeling it “reckless.” He warned that the deal would erase the war’s achievements and threatened that his party would leave the government if the agreement is approved.
In a translated post on X, Ben-Gvir stated, “The deal includes the release of hundreds of murderous terrorists, the return of thousands of terrorists to northern Gaza, and the cessation of fighting. It does not ensure the release of all hostages and leaves Hamas with the ability to rebuild itself.”
He added, “If this reckless deal is implemented, the Otzma Yehudit party will withdraw from the government. However, if the war against Hamas is resumed with force to achieve its goals, we will rejoin the coalition.”
Despite the announcement of the ceasefire deal on Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes have intensified, resulting in 86 deaths and 258 injuries in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal. This marks the highest daily death toll in over a week, with 23 children among the dead.
The ceasefire deal, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, aims to halt hostilities and facilitate the release of hostages and prisoners. However, ongoing violence has cast uncertainty over the agreement’s potential to bring immediate relief.
