White House ‘confident’ that last-minute issues with hostage deal can be solved, ceasefire can start Sunday

The US is aware of last-minute issues closing the final details of a ceasefire-hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas that was announced yesterday, according to White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, who nevertheless expresses confidence that the agreement will begin to be implemented on Sunday.

Kirby’s comments come as Israel is still holding off from officially declaring that a deal has been reached, insisting that details remained to be finalized and that the terror group is throwing last-minute wrenches into the negotiations.

“We’re aware of these issues that the prime minister has raised today, this afternoon, their time, and we’re working through that. Our team on the ground is actually working with him and his team to iron all this out and flatten it and get it moving forward,” he tells NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement this morning accusing Hamas of backing out of some agreements and creating a “crisis” in finalizing the deal.

“Obviously, this has got to get approved by the Israeli government, and Prime Minister Netanyahu knows that. He’s working through that process as well, but we’re confident that we’ll be able to solve these last-minute issues and get it moving, and that this ceasefire can take place starting on Sunday.”