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Tzipi Schlissel/TPS-IL on 16 January, 2025
Ceasefire ‘Not Yet Finalized,’ Israeli Cabinet Not Convening, Spokesman Says
Jerusalem, 16 January, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Briefing journalists on Thursday afternoon, a Spokesman for the National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the Office of the Prime Minister denied that a ceasefire agreement has been finalized, and blamed Hamas for making last-minute demands.
“As of this time, the details of the agreement have not yet been finalized and the negotiation team is continuing its efforts to reach a solution,” said David Mencer.
“We thought we had an agreement last night. Today, Hamas has been making changes to this agreement,” he added.
“As such, the Israeli Cabinet cannot meet to agree this deal. It cannot convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement that were already agreed,” Mencer stressed.
The Cabinet was expected to meet in the morning. The delay was initially attributed to negotiators in Doha working to finalize the list of Palestinian terrorists to be released.
The agreement, which Qatari officials said would take effect on Sunday, outlines a series of prisoner and hostage exchanges. Of the 98 hostages, 33 women, children, elderly and sick captives would be released in the first stage in exchange for 110 Palestinian terrorists serving life sentences in Israeli prisons.
The most contentious aspect of the agreement is that the fate of the remaining 65 hostages will be determined by negotiations to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire. Critics say the phased approach condemns hostages not freed in the beginning to open-ended captivity and undermines Israel’s war gains.
The ceasefire would potentially lead to the release of some 1,000 Palestinian terrorists imprisoned in Israel. While many would be sent back to their homes in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, high-profile prisoners will be deported. After Israeli authorities publish a list of prisoners to be released, terror victims will have an opportunity to file legal petitions.
At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 95 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.
