Behind the scenes of the negotiations between Israel and Hamas-Egypt and Qatar mediators: Against the background of the renewed fighting, the Prime Minister's Office clarified that the commitment to return the hostages is still valid, meaning that the negotiations may continue even under fire.
IDF Spokesperson: "Hamas's claims about the Bibas family are still not verified" // IDF Spokesperson
Israeli officials said Thursday that they would not agree again to a deal that looks like the one that ended and will be characterized by a trickle of prisoners, but only the return of everyone. To reach this goal, cabinet ministers said Hamas had to be pressured militarily even if negotiations continued.
According to a CNN report this morning, Israel and the mediators have not yet officially declared the end of the talks, but the Prime Minister's Office clarified that Hamas' violation of the plan is what led to the renewal of fighting.
Sinwar. Israel will not agree to a similar agreement as it has been until now, Photo: Arab networks
Yesterday, after the abductees were released, Hamas did not submit a list consistent with the agreement, meaning it did not include women or children alive. Throughout the night, no corrections or additions were made from the side of the terrorist organization, as has been done over the past few days. Thus, at seven o'clock in the morning, when the sides did not reach an agreement, the fire from Gaza was renewed, and at the same time the IDF also renewed the fighting. Sources familiar with the negotiations reiterated that Hamas refused to abide by the terms of the deal that would have allowed the ceasefire to be extended until Sunday.
Among other things, the terrorist organization tried to include the release of bodies in the deal but leave in their hands ten women who have not been released until now. The talks with Egypt and Qatar failed to pressure Hamas, leading to the resumption of fire this morning.
Political sources said Friday morning that now, if Hamas wishes to do so, the talks will continue only while fighting and Israel has no intention of holding the fire in order to facilitate negotiations. The goal, as last time, is to advance the goals of the war simultaneously: on the one hand to topple the terrorist organization and on the other hand to pressure it militarily into a good proposal for the release of the hostages it still holds.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tried last night to pressure Israel to act in a limited time vis-à-vis Hamas and also to operate surgically in the Gaza Strip, which would reduce Israel's space for action. This morning, Blinken left Israel minutes after the resumption of hostilities and without receiving an Israeli commitment to do so.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, photo: Gideon Markowitz
Already in the middle of the week, officials announced that they would not discuss with Hamas an extension of the ceasefire in exchange for the release of the remaining abductees until the current framework is exhausted. The terror organization's decision to violate the agreement and leave the last abductees in its hands convinced only the Israeli side that Hamas does not intend to abide by the deal or the one that will follow as long as it is in an "equal" bargaining position. The resumption of fighting is also intended to push him into a corner and put on the table a better and more committed proposal for the return of the hostages.
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