The long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is expected to begin on Sunday despite last-minute negotiations over unresolved issues, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference, Blinken referred to the ongoing discussions as tying up a “loose end.”
Israel delayed cabinet meetings to approve the ceasefire, with votes potentially pushed to Friday or Saturday. Media outlets reported that the deal is expected to pass, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas for late-stage demands. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes intensified, with Palestinian authorities reporting at least 86 deaths since the truce was announced.
Hamas senior official Izzat el-Reshiq affirmed the group’s commitment to the deal, which includes a six-week initial ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and a pathway for humanitarian aid to Gaza. U.S. mediators, along with Qatari and Egyptian officials, worked to resolve disputes over prisoner releases, described as the last sticking point.
Inside Gaza, devastation continues to overshadow relief over the ceasefire. Tamer Abu Shaaban, mourning his niece killed by shrapnel, questioned the timing and sincerity of the truce. “Is this the truce they are talking about? What did this child do to deserve this?” he asked.
The conflict, which began in October 2023, has claimed over 46,000 Palestinian lives and displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, according to local authorities. The ceasefire aims to halt the violence, facilitate aid delivery, and potentially ease broader regional tensions.
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