The deal reached between Israel and Hamas for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release immediately brought jubilation to thousands of people across the decimated Palestinian territory, but both there and on the streets of Israel, hope was still constrained by anxiety on Thursday morning. The jitters were fueled by both increasing bloodshed in Gaza, and doubt cast by Israel's leader on the solidity of the deal announced the previous evening.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas was delaying Israel's final approval of the long-sought truce. Israeli media reports suggested the delay was likely down to Netanyahu trying to buy time to deal with nationalist hardliners in his cabinet who've always fiercely opposed any agreement with Hamas.
"We fully expect the deal to proceed as described yesterday, and on the timeline that we've laid out, so implementation beginning as soon as Sunday with a ceasefire and the release of the first hostages," U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer said Thursday on "CBS Mornings," acknowledging "a set of implementation details and conditions that are going to be a challenge throughout the implementation of this deal, which is going to extend well into the next administration."
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