Israel accused Hamas on Thursday of backtracking on parts of a fragile ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Gaza war, and carried out fresh air strikes ahead of an expected vote by the cabinet.
The truce, announced by mediators Qatar and the United States on Wednesday, would take effect on Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalised.
But the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Hamas had "reneged on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions." It also said that the Israeli cabinet, which has yet to approve the agreement, "will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement." Hamas political bureau member Sami Abu Zuhri said there was "no basis" to Israel's accusations.
In Gaza, the civil defence agency said Israel had pounded several areas of the territory since the announcement of the deal, killing at least 73 people and wounding hundreds.
