A senior Israeli official said on Saturday that negotiations over a ceasefire deal with Hamas have reached a dead end, with Israel unwilling to support a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.
The Israeli official made further comments blaming Hamas for the impasses, echoing the language of Israeli and US officials that “the ball is Hamas’s court” and that stopping the war is in their hands.
Despite this rhetoric, Israel has not accepted the ceasefire proposal announced by Biden in May, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating clearly that Israel does not support a permanent ceasefire.
Israel’s demand appears to be for Hamas to release all the hostages right now in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, while Biden’s proposal involved a phased release of hostages in exchange resulting in temporary ceasefires that would ultimately lead to a permanent truce.
Since Biden announced his peace proposal, Israel’s violence in Gaza has increased, with Tel Aviv carrying out several massacres, including two on Saturday that killed at least 42 Palestinians after Israel struck two residential areas of Gaza City.
The Israeli official made further comments blaming Hamas for the impasses, echoing the language of Israeli and US officials that “the ball is Hamas’s court” and that stopping the war is in their hands.
Did Hamas not accept a deal before while Israel (I assume their PM) rejected it? Found the article: Hamas accepts UN ceasefire resolution, ready to negotiate over details, official says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating clearly that Israel does not support a permanent ceasefire.
Israel blaming Hamas for not having a ceasefire or any deal and then this written in the article.
Israel’s demand appears to be for Hamas to release all the hostages right now in exchange for a temporary ceasefire
I mean any sane person would understand Hamas won’t accept this. This means they lose all negotiation ‘material’ (could not find a better word, apologies). The deal should be something along lines of; release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas has said it will only support a deal that includes a permanent ceasefire
Exactly this. They are willing to accept a deal, it is Israel who does not want to accept anything.
Israel’s entire position when negotiating is essentially “We won’t agree to anything until the other party we’re negotiating with is destroyed forever.” and then they turn around and blame Hamas for the impasse.
They can’t accept any deal because they set an impossible goal for themselves that can’t be reached without killing or driving out every single Palestinian.
This means they lose all negotiation ‘material’ (could not find a better word, apologies).
maybe leverage or bargaining chip
US, Egypt, Qatar, and every sane nation: Let’s end this war now.
Hamas: We’ll give Israel everything they want if they will end the war.
Israel: Fuck you. Give us everything we want, and we’ll still kill you all.
US and Israel: We’re not sure why Hamas is being so unreasonable, but it looks like no ceasefire.
rinse and repeat for 9 months
It’s a bit hard to negotiate peace when both parties would rather die than stop attacking.
Hamas: Let’s have a permanent ceasefire
Israel: No we can bomb kill Palestinians infinitely with American bombs and barely risk our own lives
You: Nobody wants peace because they would rather die
