Netanyahu’s office confirmed in a statement that the Israeli prime minister spoke for about three hours with Blinken in Jerusalemin a meeting described as “positive and conducted in good spirit.”
The Israeli president “reiterated Israel’s commitment to the latest US proposal for a ceasefire on the release of the hostages, which takes into account Israel’s security needs, on which he remains firm,” the statement added, without giving further details.
Blinken arrived in Israel on August 18 for a ninth visit since the war broke out on October 7, 2023, with the aim of promoting a agreement that includes the release of the 111 Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gazaof which at least 39 have died, as well as the massive influx of humanitarian aid into the devastated Gaza Strip.
Read more: Israel announces Hamas military chief killed in Gaza bombing
Netanyahu made it clear on August 18 that Israel is “negotiating, not conceding”to Hamas. The Israeli prime minister has been accused in his own country of obstructing negotiations with new demands, as well as putting his political interests first.
The Israeli leader urged the United States, Qatar and Egypt, which act as mediators, to put pressure on Hamas and not on Israel, in addition reiterated its firmness on two key points:
- Do not stop the military offensive until the Islamist group is dismantled
- Not withdrawing its troops from the strategic Philadelphia Corridor, which spans the entire border line between Gaza and Egypt.
The Israeli negotiating team met with mediators in Doha, an appointment to which Hamas did not attenddemanding that, instead of new negotiations, what had already been agreed in previous months based on a proposal by US President Joe Biden be applied.
“The new proposal” that emerged after the meeting in Doha “responds to the conditions imposed by Netanyahu and is consistent with them,” Hamas lamented on Sunday, rejecting what was agreed in Qatar.
Also read: US prepares for ‘all possibilities’ amid fears of war in Middle East
The Islamist group criticizes that The new proposal does not include a definitive ceasefire or the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, and to agree to Netanyahu’s “insistence” that the Israeli army continue to control the Netzarim crossing (which connects the north with the south of the Strip), the border crossing of the Gazan city of Rafah (with Egypt) and the Philadelphia Corridor.
Hamas claims to have accepted President Biden’s proposal on July 2, while Israel claims to have done the same without adding any new demands, but rather “clarifications.”
While Washington estimates that the agreement could be reached as soon as possible, Netanyahu reportedly told his ministers that “the chances are not high”according to public radio Can.
The war broke out on October 7, 2023 with a Hamas attack on Israel that left about 1,200 dead and 251 kidnapped.
Since then, Israeli forces have been attacking the Gaza Strip by air, land and sea, where there are already more than 40 thousand dead, 92 thousand wounded, 10 thousand missing under the rubble and 1.9 million displaced surviving an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
#Netanyahu #remains #firm #demands #truce #Hamas
