Further ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas were held in Cairo on Sunday. On Friday, the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, presented a compromise plan for an agreement, which Hezbollah rejected. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday to push for a positive outcome to the talks.
Netanyahu reportedly told his ministers that “the chances of reaching an agreement are not good,” expressing skepticism about optimistic messages from the United States and other mediators. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden stressed that “reaching an agreement is still possible.”
The main point of contention remains Israeli control over the Gaza Strip’s border area with Egypt. Israel wants to maintain control over the strategic road that divides the territory into southern and northern parts, something Hamas opposes.
Ceasefire Agreement. Netanyahu Criticizes Negotiators
Israeli negotiators warned the prime minister that his stubbornness could doom the entire talks. But Netanyahu refused to make any concessions, saying he would accept the deal only after Hamas dropped its demand for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the areas.
According to Israeli media, Netanyahu, during Sunday’s meetings, harshly criticized the negotiators for revealing information from internal meetings to the press. The prime minister accused them of harming the negotiations and Israel’s position.
The main question remains, Haaretz notes, whether Netanyahu will decide to conclude the agreement despite the position of his far-right coalition partners. The prime minister has not yet made a final decision, and American pressure could play a decisive role here. If the talks fail, Netanyahu will likely blame Hamas, but it is not certain whether he will get Washington’s support on this.
The war in the Gaza Strip broke out after a Hamas attack on Israel, which killed nearly 1,200 people and kidnapped 251. On the Palestinian side, more than 40,000 people died. The Gaza Strip is in ruins and most of its population has become internal refugees.
