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Anticipation is high for this upcoming Thursday, the scheduled date for negotiations called by Egypt, the United States, and Qatar to end the war in Gaza.

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The leaders of the three countries issued a statement last Thursday, calling for urgent negotiations on August 15 in Cairo or Doha to finalize a truce agreement that would end the war in Gaza, which has been ongoing for more than 10 months.

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office announced its participation in the negotiations, which could pave the way for an agreement, two far-right ministers have threatened to derail any truce deal in Gaza.

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Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to oppose any agreement between Israel and Hamas for a truce and ceasefire, despite Washington’s criticism of the positions of some Israeli ministers on the agreement.

Smotrich stated, “I respect the position of the United States and thank them for their support of Israel in facing threats, but I expect them to respect Israeli democracy.”

In a tweet posted on his account on the social media platform “X,” he added, “Just as the United States rejected international pressure to reach a surrender agreement with Al-Qaeda and Bin Laden, Israel will not succumb to any external pressure that could harm Israel’s security.”

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Smotrich considered that the anticipated agreement would mean surrendering to Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas‘s political bureau, whom Israel considers the primary responsible for the October 7 attack. He said that the agreement “would release many killers, bring terrorists back to northern Gaza, push Israel to abandon its borders, allow Hamas to smuggle weapons, and regain its strength to return and attack Israel as a proxy for Iran. This is a bad deal for Israel and puts its security at risk.”

The Israeli Finance Minister added, “We will oppose this agreement with all our might.”

Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized the ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas, aimed at reaching an agreement on prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in Gaza.

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Far-right Minister Ben Gvir described these talks as “surrender” to Hamas, calling for cutting off aid to Gaza, despite repeated warnings from Israel’s allies that this measure would be considered crossing red lines and could cause Israel to lose their support.

Ben Gvir refused to sit down with Hamas to negotiate and reiterated his previous calls to cut off fuel supplies and aid to Gaza, adding that this measure would lead to the collapse of the movement within a week or two.

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Last Thursday evening, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, the three countries mediating between Hamas and Israel to stop the war, issued a joint statement affirming the need to quickly conclude a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and release hostages and detainees.

The statement, signed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and U.S. President Joe Biden, stated, “It is time to immediately end the prolonged suffering of the people of Gaza as well as the long-standing suffering of the hostages and their families, and it is time to reach a ceasefire and an agreement on the release of hostages and detainees.”

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The statement added, “The three of us, along with our teams, have worked tirelessly over several months to reach a framework agreement that is currently on the table, where only the details of implementation remain to be finalized. This agreement is based on the principles proposed by President Biden on May 31, 2024, and endorsed by Security Council Resolution No. 5735.”

The joint statement emphasized that no more time should be wasted, and no party should find excuses for another delay, stressing that it is now time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement.

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The statement concluded, “As mediators, we are ready—if necessary—to propose a final solution to overcome gaps and resolve remaining issues related to implementation in a way that meets the expectations of all parties.”

It added, “We have invited both sides to resume urgent discussions on Wednesday, August 14, or Thursday, August 15, in Doha or Cairo, to bridge all remaining gaps and begin implementing the agreement without further delays.”