Families of Israeli captives slam Netanyahu’s handling of truce talks
“The full and direct responsibility for the fate of the negotiations is on the prime minister. His incessant attempts to blame the negotiation teams, the mediators, the press, the hostages’ families and even the hostages themselves – these all throw sand in the eyes of the public and the entire world.
“The prime minister is the authority and therefore he is responsible. If he is so successful at conducting negotiations, as he describes himself to be, he should fly out himself and act to return the hostages that were abandoned on his watch and for ten months since.”
Haaretz editor says Netanyahu’s goal is ‘creeping occupation’ of Gaza
Aluf Benn said in an editorial that the Israeli prime minister is “torpedoing” ceasefire negotiations because he ultimately wants a “prolonged occupation of the Gaza Strip”.
“Caravan after caravan, outpost after outpost” Netanyahu is planning a “creeping occupation” of Gaza, Benn said, adding that the Israeli prime minister’s recent insistence on maintaining Israeli control of “defense and strategic assets”, such as the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors illustrates his intentions.
The editorial came as the families of Israeli captives held in Gaza criticised Netanyahu’s handling of the truce talks, saying the “full and direct responsibility for the fate of the negotiations is on the prime minister”.
Next ’48 hours’ important for ceasefire deal, says former Egyptian official
Hussein Haridi, former Egyptian assistant foreign minister and former ambassador, says that “in principle,” all parties are in agreement on the ceasefire deal, but “differences in opinion remain”.
“There are some disagreements definitely between the Israelis and Hamas’s people, but we believe these differences are reachable. So we are waiting for the next 48 hours to see whether the technical teams negotiating the details would succeed in bringing to fruition and bringing to the finish line this agreement,” Haridi told Al Jazeera.
He added that Netanyahu realises that the US is in the midst of presidential elections and “is making the most of it to score gains with his ruling coalition”.
“As a matter of fact, the statements that come out, either of his office or the statements he makes, are for these far-right extremists … in his ruling coalition,” Haridi said.
Biden and Harris need ceasefire deal to secure ‘public opinion’, says Haridi
Hussein Haridi, former Egyptian assistant foreign minister, says Israel is “losing economically (and) financially” and the Palestinians are “suffering”, so it’s in the interest of everyone to secure a ceasefire deal.
“We all hope that the negotiating teams can reach an agreement, but … I guess the American administration would keep pushing for a deal for two reasons. The first one, of course, the (President Joe) Biden administration and (Vice President) Kamala Harris need a ceasefire agreement in place in Gaza in order to sell it to the American public opinion,” Haridi told Al Jazeera.
He added that the second reason why the US needs a ceasefire deal to be agreed upon is due to a fear that if it’s not approved, it could “open the door for the retaliation (on Israel from) Iran and Hezbollah”.
US aircraft carrier group arrives in the Middle East
The US Central Command said the USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier Strike Group, which is equipped with F-35 fighter jets and a destroyer squadron, has arrived in its area of responsibility.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the carrier strike group to hasten its journey to the Middle East earlier in August as tensions rose in the region as Iran threatened to launch a retaliatory attack against Israel over the assassination of Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
At the time, Austin said the carrier strike group would be adding to the capabilities already provided by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group.
He also announced the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the region.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), equipped with F-35C and F/A-18 Block III fighters, entered the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility.
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3, is accompanied by Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 and… pic.twitter.com/RKoJQshigR
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 21, 2024
