In his last news conference as America’s top diplomat, Antony Blinken said he was “confident” and “fully expect[s] that implementation will begin on Sunday”.
The Israeli leader’s spokesman said the hold-up concerned the Philadelphi corridor, the strip of land between Gaza and Egypt. According to a copy of the deal, seen by Reuters, Israeli forces will gradually reduce their forces in the area during the first 50 days of the ceasefire.
Hamas claimed it had fully accepted the ceasefire deal that was announced on Wednesday, with the first phase of the ceasefire due to begin on Sunday.
The Israeli cabinet is now due to meet on Friday morning to approve the agreement, according to local media.
Activists block a road during a protest against the ceasefire (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Netanyahu faced domestic opposition throughout the day, as the far-right Religious Zionism party threatened to resign without a commitment to “return to the war to destroy Hamas” after phase one of the deal, potentially placing his coalition at risk.
“This is a terrible deal and if it will actually go through, we members of Otzma Yehudit [a political party] will give letters of resignation to the Prime Minister, we will no longer be part of the government and we will leave it,” he said on Thursday evening.
In Jerusalem, hundreds of protesters opposing the deal and groups representing families of dead soldiers blocked traffic, with a crowd of Orthodox teenagers chanting: “Jewish blood is not cheap”.
Ben-Gvir announcing his conditional intent to resign (Photo: Oren Ben Hakoon)Under the terms of the complex agreement, the parties will negotiate follow-on deals during the first phase, a six-week truce during which 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas will be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
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Read MoreHamas claims to have assurances from mediators that Israel will follow the process to the conclusion, although Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that Israel’s campaign in Gaza will continue until the militant group is destroyed.
Israeli bombing of Gaza continued on Thursday despite a ceasefire being expected to start in just a few days.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said one of its staff was among the dead.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)The World Health Organisation called for help to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza when the ceasefire takes effect, with the deal specifying that 600 trucks should enter the territory each day from Sunday.
“The UN cannot deliver the response alone,” said a spokesperson. “Now is the time for member states, donors and the global community to step up.”
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