Netanyahu accused of breaching ceasefire deal by delaying talks

An Israeli negotiator has slammed Benjamin Netanyahu for “flagrantly violating” the terms of a fragile truce after the prime minister delayed critical peace talks set to begin on Monday.

According to CNN, the negotiator claimed Netanyahu’s refusal to send a delegation to Doha on the agreed date has thrown the ceasefire into jeopardy.  

Under the terms of the Hamas-Israel agreement, negotiations for the second phase of the deal were scheduled to start on the 16th day of the ceasefire – which fell on Monday. However, Netanyahu reportedly postponed dispatching his team until after his return from Washington, sparking outrage among mediators and negotiators.  

“Israel demands that Hamas adhere to all the terms of the agreement, while simultaneously violating it in a significant way. Once again, Netanyahu is abandoning the hostages and endangering them,” the Israeli negotiator told CNN.