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 amid 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 in a podcast interview Thursday that he wants the deal closed before he takes office. 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.

Deadly strikes in Gaza have continued, despite the announcement of a ceasefire.

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Thursday morning that at least eight Israeli attacks in the area killed 81 people and wounded nearly 200 in the past 24 hours.

The Palestinian Civil Defense, an emergency organization, said Israeli strikes have killed at least 77 people since the deal was announced. The claims could not be independently verified.

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had struck about 50 targets in the Gaza Strip in the previous day. The targets included Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters, their combinations, weapons storage and production facilities as well as launch and observation points, the military said in a statement, adding that “multiple measures” had been taken to prevent civilian casualties before the strikes.

“The reality on the line remains very difficult and tragic,” said Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for the Palestinian Authority.

President Biden, in his final televised interview in office that aired on MSNBC Thursday night, defended his decision to strongly support Israel throughout the conflict, after he and his advisers struggled for months in communications efforts to finalize a ceasefire agreement.

Critics of the Israeli prime minister, including some families of hostages who have pushed for a ceasefire, have accused him of deliberately stalling talks to escalate the conflict.

Mr. Biden did not respond directly when Lawrence O'Donnell, host of MSNBC, asked if he thought Mr. Netanyahu did that. He said Mr. Netanyahu came under political pressure from the Israeli right wing, and at times he was forced “to do some things, in my opinion, that I thought were not beneficial.”

Zach Montague reporting contributed.