Israel delays cabinet vote on Gaza truce, saying Hamas reneges on parts of deal

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said on Thursday that the government has delayed a vote on the Gaza ceasefire deal, as Hamas has reneged on parts of the agreement in trying to extort Israel to make concessions at the last minute.

Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire-for-hostage agreement on Wednesday in Qatar's Doha following intensive mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

The Israeli government will not hold a cabinet meeting and vote on the ceasefire agreement until it receives a notification from the relevant mediators confirming that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement, said the office in a statement.

China's commissioning of "five essentials for aircraft carriers" marks a a significant achievement of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s accelerated transformation and development, said Jiang Bin, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference in Beijing on Saturday.

The "five essentials" refer to stealth carrier-based fighters, multirole catapult-assisted carrier-based fighters, fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft, fixed-wing electronic warfare aircraft, and anti-submarine helicopters.

"The package, or what media have dubbed the 'five essentials for aircraft carriers,' is a vital link in forming the systematic combat capability of aircraft carrier formations and a significant achievement in the PLA Navy’s accelerated transformation and development. Building a strong PLA Navy embodies the Chinese nation's long-cherished aspiration of striving to be a strong naval power and serves as an important guarantee for realizing national rejuvenation. In the new era, under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and President Xi, the modernization of the PLA Navy has become increasingly solid and powerful. From the air to the sea, from coastal waters to the open ocean, the types and functions of various weapons platforms have been continuously improved, achieving leapfrog development and innovative breakthroughs, providing stronger guarantees for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests," he said.