Israel’s Netanyahu accuses Hamas of trying to pull out of the ceasefire agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas on Thursday of pulling out of a ceasefire deal to release hostages and bring a pause to more than a year of fighting.

Netanyahu’s office said Thursday that his government will not meet to approve the Gaza cease-fire deal until Hamas withdraws from what it called a “last-minute crisis.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas, without elaborating, of trying to backtrack on part of the deal in an effort “to extort last-minute concessions.”

The Israeli cabinet was to ratify the agreement on Thursday.

President Biden joined Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a Wednesday press conference where he announced the deal would roll out in three phases.

ISRAEL-HAMAS ARMS VENGEANCE, HOSTAGE DEAL RELEASED: ‘AMERICANS WILL BE PART OF IT’

Biden said the first phase will last six weeks and “include a full and complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women and the elderly and the wounded And I am proud to say that Americans will also be part of that hostage release and phase one, and the Vice President and I can’t wait to welcome them home.

In return, Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, Biden said, and Palestinians “can also return to their neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, and a wave of humanitarian aid to Gaza will begin.”

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Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a development story. Check back for updates.