Netanyahu tells Biden he sent negotiators to finalize cease-fire deal with Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Biden that he has sent a negotiation team to have indirect talks with Hamas about a cease-fire deal, according to reports — as a possible hostage swap looked closer than it has it weeks.
The prime minister also told Biden that Israel is committed to “ending the war only after achieving all of its goals,” the Times of Israel reports. Netanyahu previously said that the goal was to destroy Hamas and ensure Gaza never again poses a threat to the Jewish state.
Both the US and Israeli governments are examining the Iran-backed terror group’s proposal, which was sent over to Egyptian and Qatari negotiators on Wednesday. A US official familiar with the matter called the proposal “constructive,” but in need of more work.
Netanyahu has called on his security cabinet to convene Thursday and discuss the latest developments to try to free the some 120 hostages remaining in Gaza.
Hamas had rejected the deal last month, which called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and laid the groundwork for a hostage exchange, as well as allowing more aid to be delivered to Palestinian refugees.
Like with previous deals before it, Hamas refused on the grounds that the proposal did not call for an end to the war, a condition Israel has rejected as Netanyahu reiterated that the fighting will only end once Hamas is eradicated.
Hamas political official Bassem Naim, however, claimed the terrorist group had not fully accepted or rejected the American proposal.
Naim said Hamas has “responded with some ideas to bridge the gap,” but did not elaborate on what those ideas were.
The terror group claimed in a statement that their demands were flexible, but again tried to cast the blame on the stalled talks on Israel, accusing the Jewish state of “trying to deceive and evade.”
Negotiators believe Israel and Hamas’ main issue stems from the uncertainty between the first two phases of Biden’s plan.
During phase one, Israel would withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza and release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and Hamas would in turn free several hostages, including women, older people and those who are sick and wounded.
The second phase would see a similar exchange for the freedom of all remaining living hostages, with Israel agreeing to withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.
Both Israel and Hamas officials have expressed concerns that the other will back out in the middle of the deal and attack, similar to how the first wave of hostage exchanges ended in November.
Some 250 people were kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack that left another 1,200 dead.
Since the start of the war, more than 100 were freed in November’s exchange, with another seven rescued by the IDF and 19 others having their bodies recovered from Gaza.
Israel estimates that 116 remain in Hamas captivity, including the bodies of at least 42 hostages.
With Post wires
