Netanyahu ‘not interested in ending war on Gaza'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has released a statement saying that Israel had agreed to the proposal presented by the US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The statement pointed the finger at Hamas, saying that they are refusing it, even though the Palestinian group said that this is something they were willing to work with.
But Hamas also wanted some conditions that, perhaps, could lead to negotiations for an end to the war. It’s been one of their terms since the beginning of these talks, since the ceasefire deal collapsed back in March when Israel resumed its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
It’s important to note that from the beginning of these discussions, the Israeli prime minister had been clear that he’s not interested in an end of the war, that he had tough red lines for what it would take for the Israeli assault on Gaza to end.
That included a complete demilitarisation of Hamas and the release of the hostages. It also included Trump’s plan for removing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, something that has been denounced and condemned and is widely considered as ethnic cleansing.
So the Israelis, from the beginning, were not interested in negotiating an end to the war, and the Israeli prime minister is pointing the finger at Hamas for why these talks are not going in the right direction.
Israelis protest for captive deal, ceasefire in West Jerusalem
Ceasefire unlikely in coming days as Witkoff slams Hamas’s response
Steve Witkoff’s statement puts out a huge question now, which is: where does this go next?
Certainly, US President Donald Trump, speaking on Friday, suggested that he thought Hamas was on the verge of accepting the proposals that have been put forward, saying they were hoping to find a way out of what he described as this mess. And, of course, in the past, Trump said, if there wasn’t a ceasefire deal and the release of captives pretty quickly, then there would be hell to pay.
But many people will point to the fact that when Netanyahu visited the White House, Trump effectively gave him the green light to do whatever he wanted to do in Gaza.
It seems that the phrase “permanent ceasefire” may have been a huge obstacle. Hamas wanted that included in any agreement, but the Israelis not so much.
But also, we know that there has been international criticism of the US, suggesting that rather than acting as an honest broker, it tends to favour what the Israelis want.
We had the US say that they were prepared to walk away from the Russia-Ukraine talks. They were prepared to walk away from doing a deal with Iran on its nuclear programme. The question is now, are the US about to walk away from here?
Trump wants to be seen as a peacemaker. So that may be the small sliver of hope here. But what is clear is that there are not going to be any talks in the near future, and certainly no ceasefire in the coming days.
What is Hamas’s response to Witkoff’s proposal?
The Palestinian group says the proposal the group discussed with Witkoff was different from the one finally presented to it.
Earlier, we spoke to Basem Naim, the head of Hamas’s political and international relations. Here’s what he said:
- One week ago, Hamas agreed with Witkoff on one proposal. The Trump envoy went to the Israelis to get their response and brought Hamas a “totally new” text, which “had nothing to do with what we agreed upon”.
- This new proposal does take into account the “basics of our needs” and does not even guarantee a 60-day temporary ceasefire or the inflow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- There are also no guarantees for negotiations to end the war, or a permanent ceasefire or a total withdrawal of troops from the Strip.
- Instead, it “legitimises” the US-Israeli plan for aid distribution in Gaza, which has been rejected by the international community.
- It also only talks about the “redeployment” of Israeli forces inside Gaza, and requires “negotiations from the beginning about the new redeployment plans within the 60 days”.
That’s why, he said, Hamas has sought changes to the proposal, to find a way to guarantee “the minimum of the needs of our people”.
In a statement earlier, the Palestinian group said:
- Its proposal “aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and ensure the flow of aid to our people”.
- As part of the agreement, 10 living Israeli captives will be freed and the bodies of 18 others will be returned in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners.
Here are the details of Hamas’s counter proposal
- A 60-day ceasefire in Gaza
- the release of 10 living Israeli captives in three stages
- the return of the bodies of 18 captives
- the entry of unconditional aid into Gaza, through the UN and its aid agencies
- negotiations on a permanent ceasefire to begin on day one
- the Trump administration to guarantee the talks to reach a final settlement to the war.
