The truce between Israel and Hamas announced yesterday (BREAKING: Israel, Hamas Agree on Ceasefire, Hostage Deal) shows signs of unraveling because of last-minute Hamas demands, some of which contradict the negotiated terms.

“Hamas reneges on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions,” a statement read, explaining delays in convening the Cabinet, which was scheduled to meet on Thursday at 11 a.m. “The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement.

A key element has been a Hamas demand that they select which prisoners are freed by Israel in what order. They are also demanding the release of prisoners, which Israel explicitly refused to consider.

Hamas is demanding the release of prisoners serving life sentences, whom Israel has vetoed as part of ongoing negotiations. Among those Israel refuses to release are former Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, serving five life sentences, and the killers of a Jewish family in a 2011 attack, whose release Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesperson, Omer Dostri, denied would be included in the deal.

This is the basic scope of the agreement.

Israel-Hamas Gaza cease-fire deal begins on January 19, 2025

PHASE 1: Initial six days (42 days)

Hostage Release:
33 hostages to be freed, including women, children, elderly, and 3 Americans believed alive.

Hostage Exchange:
~2,000 Palestinian prisoners to be released,…

— Velina Tchakarova (@vtchakarova) January 16, 2025

PHASE 1: Initial six days (42 days) 

Hostage Release: 33 hostages to be freed, including women, children, elderly, and 3 Americans believed alive. 

Hostage Exchange: ~2,000 Palestinian prisoners to be released, including 250 serving life sentences. 

Military Withdrawal: Israeli forces withdraw from densely populated Gaza areas but remain at the border. 

Humanitarian Aid: Up to 600 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily. 

PHASES 2 & 3: Future Steps 

Sustainable peace with full military ceasefire. 

Further hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. 

PHASE 3: 

• Gaza reconstruction over 3-5 years (Estimations are 50-60 billion USD) 
• Infrastructure rebuilding and compensation. 
• Exchange of remains between parties. 

Key Mediators: United States, Qatar, Egypt.

Even though both Trump and Biden were touting the ceasefire, the deal is a horrible one for everyone except Hamas. Hamas gets a couple of thousand terrorists back; they get the pressure off, and, according to some sources, the US has agreed to be a significant underwriter to the "rebuild Gaza" effort. It also gets to declare victory because the imagery coming out of this travesty will be that of released terrorists and retreating IDF forces. Worse than that, Hamas treats the October 7 massacre as a victory and promises to do it again.

Senior Hamas Official Khalil Al-Hayya upon the Signing of Ceasefire Agreement: October 7 Will Continue to Be a Source of Pride; Our People Served as an "Impenetrable Shield" for the Resistance; Israel's Supporters Will Be Punished, Even If It Takes Time pic.twitter.com/CeD8HUTNih

— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) January 16, 2025

Israel gets a temporary ceasefire and the opportunity to do it all over again in a few years.