The Israeli security cabinet meeting to vote on the ceasefire deal has now been delayed, a source briefed on the matter told The Telegraph.
It was expected to start at 11:00 local time (9am GMT). A new time has not been set.
Hard-Right party issues ultimatum to Netanyahu
The hard-Right Religious Zionism party has concluded its faction meeting, deciding to issue an ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister.
The party will only stay in his coalition and support a temporary ceasefire on the condition that Mr Netanyahu continues the war against Hamas after the first phase.
“The faction stands behind the demands of the party chairman, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to ensure Israel’s return to the war to destroy Hamas and the return of all the hostages, including a change in the concept of decisive victory, immediately upon the conclusion of the first phase of the deal,” the party said in a statement after their meeting.
Israel has not agreed to withdraw from Philadelphi corridor, says official
A senior diplomatic official has denied Israel agreed to gradually pull out of the Philadelphi Corridor under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Israel’s military currently occupies the narrow ribbon of land that separates Gaza and Egypt, including the Rafah crossing, one of the largest and most important aid crossings into the Strip.
A copy of the deal suggested Israel had agreed to withdraw its troops from the corridor, which have been stationed there since May 2024.
The official told The Times of Israel that Israeli troops will remain in the area “throughout the entire first stage, all 42 days.”
The number of troops deployed there will remain the same, the official said, “but will be distributed in a different manner, including outposts, patrols, observation points and control along the entire route.”
While the world is celebrating the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the drama inside Benjamin Netanyahu’s government continues as it prepares to vote on the deal.
A security meeting scheduled for 11:00 am local time has been delayed, according to a source speaking to the Telegraph. Despite no explanation given for the delay it could be linked to the Religious Zionism party which is meeting this morning to decide on whether to leave the government due to the ceasefire.
Party leader Betzalel Smotrich, who is also a member of the security cabinet, called the deal “dangerous and bad”, while one his lawmakers said this morning that the party would likely resign from the government.
Jewish Power, another hard-Right party in Mr Netanyahu’s coalition, has also threatened with leaving the government, as they consider the deal a “surrender” to Hamas.
Mr Netanyahu will still have a majority government if the two parties abandon his coalition, but it will leave him fragile and could inspire other lawmakers to follow in the far-right parties’ footsteps.