Overview of the situation - Netanyahu hardens stance in Gaza negotiations
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu causes frustration and irritation with strengthened conditions for a ceasefire in the Gaza War. His new demand, that armed Hamas fighters be prevented from returning from the South to the North in the enclave, threatens to derail recently optimistic efforts to secure a deal for the release of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas, according to a media report.
Several participants in the Israeli negotiation team expressed objections to Netanyahu's demand during consultations with him, reported the well-connected Israeli journalist Barak Ravid on "walla.co.il". It's not feasible, one of the participants was quoted as saying. Netanyahu had previously during a speech to upcoming officers confirmed his conditions for an agreement, which he had recently listed before the resumption of indirect negotiations and caused criticism.
Hostage family members shocked
Preventing armed Hamas fighters from returning to the North in Gaza is a demand that was not part of Israel's position presented at the end of May; it's unclear why Netanyahu raised it, quoted Ravid his source. The forum of the hostages' relatives reacted to the reports that Netanyahu's new demand could prevent an agreement, with the words: "We are appalled and shocked by this irresponsible behavior."
"It could lead to missing an opportunity that may never return again," the statement reads. Netanyahu now also demands that the Israeli army continue to control the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the border between Gaza and Egypt in the South. According to Israel, Hamas has used this border area for the smuggling of weapons into the Gazastrip. The Israeli army had taken control of the corridor a few weeks ago.
According to the "Wall Street Journal," during the recent negotiations in Cairo this week, where Egypt, Qatar, and the US were mediating between Israel and Hamas, ideas were being discussed on how to secure this border strip without the presence of the Israeli army. Egypt wants Israel to withdraw its troops there. However, Netanyahu's office made it clear in a statement: "The Prime Minister insists that Israel remains in the Philadelphi Corridor."
Insisting on staying in the area means "there is no agreement," quoted the US newspaper a former officer of the Israeli military intelligence and head of a forum for Palestinian studies at the University of Tel Aviv. Netanyahu now also demands that an agreement prevent Hamas fighters from returning from the South to the North in the enclave. Some members of the Israeli negotiation team view this as a purely tactical maneuver, reported Ravid further.
Netanyahu maneuvers tactically.
Netanyahu sharpens his stance regarding intelligence information that the Hamas has been militarily weakened in the Gaza Strip and now wants a ceasefire, wrote Ravid in the US news portal "Axios". Critics suspect Netanyahu of not being interested in a negotiated solution. Netanyahu, who is facing a corruption trial, must consider ultra-religious and far-right coalition partners. These reject concessions to the Hamas and threaten to bring down his government.
Netanyahu recently stated that non-negotiable conditions for an agreement on a ceasefire, in addition to preventing the return of armed Hamas fighters to the northern Gaza Strip, include maximizing the number of living hostages the Hamas would have to release as part of a deal, stopping weapons smuggling from Egypt, and upholding Israel's right to defend itself. "These are our unwavering principles," Netanyahu confirmed in a statement from his office.
Cautious Optimism
The slow-moving indirect negotiations, which mostly take place in Cairo and Doha, revolve around the exchange of the remaining Israeli hostages in Hamas custody for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and finding a permanent ceasefire. Recently, there has been cautious optimism in negotiating circles due to Hamas reportedly softening some of its rigid positions.
Intermediaries and former negotiators told the "Wall Street Journal," Netanyahu has previously hindered progress in the indirect negotiations through public statements and limiting the mandate of his own negotiating team. His latest statements could be seen as a continuation of this trend. There are still open issues that went beyond what was agreed upon with the intermediaries, according to a senior Egyptian official.
War continues
This hinders progress in negotiations on a hostage deal, the official said. According to Israeli estimates, approximately 120 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Many of them may no longer be alive. The trigger for the war was the unprecedented massacre committed by Hamas terrorists and other extremist Palestinian organizations in the southern part of Israel on October 7 of the previous year. They killed over 1,200 people and abducted an additional 250 to Gaza.
After more than nine months of war, Israel is under heavy criticism from the Palestinian population and the international community due to the high number of casualties and extensive damage. According to the health authority controlled by Hamas, over 38,300 Palestinians have been killed. This number does not distinguish between civilians and armed fighters and cannot be independently verified.
- The new demand by Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for armed Hamas fighters not to return from the South to the North in Gaza could derail the Geisela agreement negotiations.
- Barak Ravid, a well-connected Israeli journalist, reported that several participants in the Israeli negotiation team objected to Netanyahu's demand during consultations.
- The hostage family members expressed their shock and disapproval at Netanyahu's demand, fearing it could lead to missing an opportunity to secure a deal.
- According to the "Wall Street Journal," during the recent negotiations in Cairo, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States of America were trying to discuss how to secure the Philadelphi Corridor without the Israeli army's presence.
- Netanyahu's office stated that he insists on Israel remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor, a position that according to a former Israeli military intelligence officer, "means there is no agreement."
- Critics suspect that Netanyahu is not interested in a negotiated solution due to his tactical maneuvers, such as sharpening his stance based on intelligence information that Hamas is militarily weakened in Gaza.
- Netanyahu's position is influenced by his coalition partners, ultra-religious and far-right parties, who reject concessions to Hamas and could potentially bring down his government if he makes any.
- The slow-moving indirect negotiations revolve around the exchange of hostages from both sides and finding a permanent ceasefire, with Hamas reportedly softening some of its rigid positions recently.
- The war in Gaza continues, despite cautious optimism in negotiating circles, due to several unresolved issues and Netanyahu's tendency to hinder progress through public statements and limiting the mandate of his negotiation team.
