World
November 5, 2024 12:20
tel aviv - Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have hit another dead end as Hamas rejects a temporary truce proposal while Israeli Prime Minister faces backlash over leaked state secrets.
Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have hit another dead end as Hamas rejects a temporary truce proposal put forth by Israel, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his far-right coalition partners, is reluctant to end the war in Gaza. The Prime Minister is currently facing criticism in his own country as one of his aides is accused of stealing state secrets and leaking them to foreign press. This leaked information, although partially inaccurate, was used to justify Netanyahu's rigid stance in negotiations, but the court ruled that the leaked documents jeopardized the fate of the hostages. The aide has been in custody for a week and could face a lengthy prison sentence.
There was hope that after the death of Sinwar, progress would be made in the negotiations for a hostage deal. However, Hamas refuses to agree to an Egyptian proposal for a twelve-day ceasefire. Under this proposal, four hostages would be exchanged for a hundred Palestinian prisoners, followed by discussions on a more permanent agreement.
The Israeli army is said to be open to a comprehensive deal as they believe their offensive in Gaza is nearing its end: Hamas as a military power has been defeated and its leadership decimated. Currently, the terrorist group is officially led by a temporary council, with various officials mostly residing abroad. However, in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar's brother, Mohammed, is believed to have taken over leadership.
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There is uncertainty about whether Mohammed has the same control over the various groups and areas in Gaza as his brother Yahya did. This raises questions about his ability to implement any potential deal. Hamas' rejection is a setback for Egypt, which had initiated renewed talks under the leadership of a new head of intelligence. President Al-Sisi had strongly supported the proposal.
The United States has expressed disappointment. Secretary of State Blinken stated, ''Hamas has once again refused to release even a limited number of hostages to secure a ceasefire and aid for the people of Gaza.'' There is currently a proposal from Qatar on the table, but it also involves a temporary ceasefire and is likely to be rejected by Hamas.
The clock is ticking for the 97 hostages who have been held captive for nearly 400 days. At least a third of them are no longer alive. The remaining hostages are believed to be in poor physical condition, with some Israeli military officials estimating that one of them dies every week.
The hostages' families are hoping for some flexibility from Netanyahu, who is standing firm for now. One of his demands is for Israeli troops to remain at the border between Gaza and Egypt to prevent Hamas from rearming in the future. This demand is relatively new and is not unanimously supported within the military and security services.
Critics argue that the Prime Minister only brought up this demand to stall a deal. Netanyahu is reported to have come up with a new proposal: a reward of several million dollars for each released hostage. Hamas members or other Palestinians who release a hostage would also receive safe passage out of Gaza. Last month, an Israeli businessman offered $100,000 per released hostage, but it did not lead to any releases.
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Netanyahu claims to be doing everything to secure the release of the Israelis, but a series of revelations cast doubt on that. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister has been in custody since last week on suspicion of stealing military secrets and leaking them to foreign press.
He is alleged to have provided military documents to the German Bild that purportedly showed Hamas was not interested in a deal. It was later revealed that the information was old and came from a low-ranking Hamas official. He is also accused of deliberately providing false information to the Jewish Chronicle, which published a story based on it suggesting Hamas planned to smuggle hostages to Egypt, hence the necessity for Israeli soldiers to remain at the border.
Both articles bolstered Netanyahu's position, despite him not being a suspect in the case. The 'leaks' in Bild and the Jewish Chronicle came at a time when the Prime Minister faced a precarious situation in early September, as Israelis took to the streets in large numbers daily after the death of six hostages demanding a deal. The court believes the leaks endanger the hostages' return.
The families of the hostages are furious about the situation. A statement from the forum representing most families reads, ''The impression is given that individuals associated with the Prime Minister have committed one of the greatest frauds in the country's history. This is a moral low point. A heavy blow to the remaining trust between the government and its citizens.''