Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Hamas of attempting to extract “last-minute concessions” regarding a ceasefire agreement that both parties had consented to just a day before, leading to a postponed vote on the truce during the Israeli cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The three-stage plan is designed to secure the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners locked up in Israeli facilities during its initial phase. Although the specifics of the agreement have not been fully disclosed, it aims for a Gaza ceasefire, a prisoner exchange, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Palestinian areas—a move officials hope will eventually conclude the ongoing war that has lasted nearly 16 months.

Mediators from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt have confirmed the key points of the agreement, which was mutually accepted by Israel and Hamas on Wednesday. Hamas has publicly supported the truce, anticipated to commence on Sunday, last for six weeks, and facilitate the release of many hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being freed.

However, Netanyahu’s office stated that the cabinet “will not meet until it receives notification from the mediators that Hamas has agreed to all terms of the deal.” Netanyahu accused Hamas of causing a “crisis” in finalizing the agreement, a claim that Hamas has continuously denied since the deal was first revealed 24 hours ago.

So, is there a deal or isn’t there? And what’s the problem, if any?

The agreement was disclosed by President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, and Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. They all claimed the deal had been accepted by both Israel and Hamas, but it still needs formal approval from Israel’s cabinet. This involves a vote by an 11-member security cabinet followed by a broader vote from a 34-member executive cabinet.

The agreement is expected to receive authorization from both cabinets.

Netanyahu’s office has yet to provide more information on the aspects of the agreement that it alleges Hamas is seeking additional concessions for. However, for several months, Netanyahu has been under pressure to maintain the stability of his coalition government, which is partially supported by right-wing parties that strongly oppose a ceasefire.

Earlier this week, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu’s far-right security minister, threatened to leave the coalition if the deal proceeds. Similarly, Bezalel Smotrich, his right-wing finance minister, made comparable statements. Recently, numerous right-wing Israelis have taken to the streets to protest against the agreement.

Determining the seriousness of these resignation threats is complex.

Nimrod Novik, a foreign policy fellow at the Israel Policy Forum think tank and former advisor to the late Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, considers them to be mere “bluffing.”

“They’ll show their strength, vote against the agreement, but remain in the government,” he remarked regarding the right-wing officials.

A source familiar with the situation, who requested to remain anonymous, indicated that the delay might have political motivations. However, the same source does not believe Netanyahu would ultimately oppose Trump, his close ally, who has expressed a desire to see a deal finalized before his inauguration on Monday.

Still, a report from the BBC on Thursday suggested that Hamas may have attempted to introduce the names of one or two high-profile prisoners at the last minute, considering them “symbolic” in order to enhance its popularity in Gaza. The BBC noted that many Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, hold Hamas accountable for the devastation and hardship that has ensued since its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Nonetheless, the situation is far from straightforward. Support for Hamas among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza remains robust, according to polling data, and Hamas has been able to recruit nearly as many new fighters as Israel has eliminated during its assaults on Gaza over the past year and a half, as reported by the U.S. State Department.

Speaking at his final news conference as the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken expressed his “confidence,” stating, “I fully expect that implementation will commence, as previously indicated, on Sunday.”

Blinken acknowledged that for a deal as intricate and significant as this, some “loose ends” may arise during the process.

“We’re currently addressing that loose end,” he added.

Contributing: Francesca Chambers