Israel, Hamas Reconcile Differences That Delayed Ceasefire Agreement, Netanyahu Says

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a meeting of Israel’s political security cabinet on Friday to pass a Gaza ceasefire agreement after Israeli talks with Hamas resolved remaining disagreements.

The office of Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement on Friday morning that he ordered the meeting to ratify the agreement later in the day.

Lawmakers will later “meet to ratify the deal,” the statement said, without specifying a date.

A security cabinet vote expected on Thursday has been delayed due to last-minute clashes with Hamas and disagreements over the deal that have emerged within Mr Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.

The prime minister’s office said the families of the hostages have been informed of the deal and he has ordered the government authorities responsible for the hostages to prepare to receive the hostages when they return to Israel.

“The State of Israel is committed to achieving all the objectives of the war, including the return of all our captors – living and dead,” the statement said.

A member of the ruling party of Mr. Netanyahu took action against the ceasefire agreement on Thursday. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, has threatened to resign and expel his party from the Israeli government if the cabinet votes to approve the ceasefire agreement.

“This agreement will effectively erase the success of the war,” Mr Ben-Gvir said, adding that the ceasefire would leave Hamas in control of Gaza.

While Mr Ben-Gvir’s threat could derail Mr Netanyahu’s coalition at a critical time, it is unlikely to break the ceasefire, which would also free Hamas hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Mr. Netanyahu will still command a majority of 62 seats in the 120-member Parliament.

Opposition lawmakers have promised to support Mr. Netanyahu’s proposal to end the violence if some hardline members leave the coalition. “This is more important than all the differences of opinion that have existed between us,” said Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition in the parliament.

Mr Netanyahu’s announcement suggests the ceasefire could come into effect this weekend. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Thursday that he hoped the agreement would go into effect as planned on Sunday.

President Biden and other negotiators announced Wednesday that talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar had reached an agreement to stop fighting and free hostages held in Gaza. Thursday’s setbacks underscored the fragility of the deal and raised fears that it could be delayed further.

President-elect Donald J. Trump, who had been pressing the parties to reach a deal before his inauguration on Monday, repeated his warning that he wanted a deal closed before he took office in a podcast interview on Thursday. He told the host, Dan Bongino, that it “better be done.” In December, a few weeks after being re-elected, Mr. Trump said there would be “hell to pay” if a ceasefire and hostage-taking deal were not reached.