An Israeli official says the prime minister is working to torpedo the chances of an agreement by Dave DeCamp July 7, 2024 at 4:22 pm ET Categories NewsTags Israel, Palestine
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a list of demands for a potential hostage deal ahead of more indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, a move seen by mediators and Israeli officials as an attempt to sabotage the chances of an agreement.
Netanyahu’s list of demands, which he called “non-negotiable,” included a condition that Israel would be allowed to resume military operations “until all of the objectives of the war have been achieved.” Netanyahu’s objectives include the “eradication” of Hamas, a goal the Israeli military has said is not realistic.
Hamas’s primary condition for a deal is a permanent ceasefire, and Netanyahu’s insistence on having the ability to resume his genocidal war appears to be the main obstacle. The Israeli leader’s repeated public comments about the issue led Hamas to ask for stronger guarantees during previous negotiations.
According to media reports, Hamas has softened its stance a bit by not asking for Israel to commit to a permanent ceasefire right away. However, the Palestinian group is asking mediators to provide written guarantees that negotiations for a permanent truce will continue once the first phase of the deal goes into effect.