Hamas announced yesterday that it had “completed its internal consultations with Palestinian factions and forces regarding the mediators’ latest proposal to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza. The movement has submitted a positive response to the mediators, and is fully prepared to immediately enter into a round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework.” While the press headlines around the world expressed optimism, the reality is that the sides are still far apart and Israel’s Netanyahu government is committed to the extermination of Hamas altogether.
A source close to Hamas told Israel’s Ynet news that the group has requested “minor changes” to the U.S.-brokered hostage-ceasefire proposal, even as it responded positively, the Times of Israel reported last night.
However, while the changes are characterized as “minor,” the reality is that they won’t be seen as such in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas’s demands include the removal of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the return of UN aid agencies to Gaza, the withdrawal of the IDF to its positions before March 2, and a guarantee that Israel will not resume the war after the 60-day period for the ceasefire expires. Israel has not agreed to any of these measures and is unlikely to do so, particularly to end the war, and even if it did agree nominally, Netanyahu would likely renege as he had with the last ceasefire agreement.
Citing Israel’s Channel 14, Middle East Eye reported yesterday that Israel is seeking written assurances from U.S. President Donald Trump that it will be allowed to resume military operations in Gaza if its demands are not met, even as talks over the 60-day ceasefire continue.
