A group representing the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza expressed concern on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, under pressure from hardline members of his governing coalition, would abandon a possible deal that could lead to a ceasefire , tried to delay or even sabotage it. fire and the release of Hamas prisoners.
A key sticking point in the negotiations was Hamas' continued demand for a commitment from Israel to end its seven-month military offensive in Gaza and abandon a planned invasion of Rafah, Hamas's last bastion in southern Gaza. the enclave, and Israel's unwillingness to make a statement. such concessions, officials said.
During the discussions in Cairo, which were mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, negotiators sought to leave some room for ambiguity in the early stages of a three-phase deal that could satisfy both sides.
But on Saturday, the Israeli government issued two statements to reporters, attributed to an unnamed “political official,” saying that, contrary to reports, Israel would not agree to end the war if part of a deal. It added that it would not allow mediators to offer Hamas guarantees about an end to the war, while blaming Hamas for undermining any possibility of a deal by continuing to meet its demands.
Several Israeli reporters who received the statements said they came directly from the prime minister's office, marking an unusual breach of government confidentiality rules.
Nahum Barnea, a prominent political columnist, said Sunday in a column in Yediot Ahronot, a popular Hebrew daily, that he believed the statements were “intended to reduce the chances of a deal.”
The Hostages Families Forum, an Israeli non-governmental group that lobbies for the release of the hostages and supports their families, said in a statement on Sunday that it was “shocked” to hear about the statements. The group called on Netanyahu to “ignore all political pressure,” “be a leader” and “show courage.”
Mr. Barnea said he believed Mr. Netanyahu would be freed “from the need to decide” on a deal if Hamas, the mediators and the far-right members of his government could be convinced that one was not on the table.
Mr. Netanyahu on Sunday vehemently rejected the accusations, saying in a longer statement, in his own name, that Hamas was the party that obstructed a deal. “Israel was and remains willing to pause the fighting to release our hostages,” he said.
While details of a possible deal are still being released, Egypt, with the broad agreement of Israeli negotiators, has put forward a proposal that would begin with a six-week ceasefire during which 33 of the most vulnerable hostages held in held in Gaza would be arrested. released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Israel would allow the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian civilians to northern Gaza with few restrictions, officials said, previously a major sticking point for Israel.
Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, said on Saturday that the group's representatives had arrived in Cairo “with great positivity” about the latest proposal. But Hamas officials told Arab news media that issues such as a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza remained unresolved. As of early Sunday, there was still no indication that Hamas had accepted the deal.