On Wednesday, Hamas and Israel exchanged accusations regarding their inability to finalize a ceasefire agreement, despite reported progress in recent days. Hamas claimed that Israel had added more conditions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the group of reneging on prior agreements. Hamas stated that Israel’s new conditions concerning withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of the displaced had hindered the agreement process. They emphasized their willingness to be flexible and described the ongoing talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, as serious. In response, Netanyahu asserted that Hamas was lying and failing to honor previous understandings, thereby complicating negotiations. He reiterated Israel’s commitment to making relentless efforts to secure the return of hostages. According to Netanyahu’s office, Israeli negotiators returned from Qatar on Tuesday evening for consultations regarding a hostage deal following a significant week of discussions. In the last two weeks, the U.S. and Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt have intensified their efforts to finalize a phased agreement. One of the obstacles has been reaching agreements on the positioning of Israeli troops. While talking with commanders in southern Gaza, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz… On Wednesday, it was stated that Israel will maintain security oversight of the enclave through buffer zones and control posts. Hamas is calling for an end to the war, while Israel insists on toppling Hamas’ governance of the area first to eliminate the threat to Israelis.
Â
