Netanyahu: "Surrendering to Hamas' demands will not lead to the release of the abductees - but to another massacre"
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last night (Wednesday) called Hamas' answer to the outline for the release of the abductees with derogatory terms such as "delusional" and "crazy".
One thing he did not say clearly - that Israel completely rejects the Hamas response and stops the negotiations.
why is it important:
In Israel they are still trying to understand exactly what led to the grocery list of demands that Hamas sent yesterday through the Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
Netanyahu's words, despite the harsh tone, may turn out to be a preparation for the start of negotiations and not as breaking tools.
His words may turn out to be preparation for negotiations.
Netanyahu/Flash 90, Miriam Elster
Behind the Scenes:
Hamas's response to the proposal formulated at the Paris summit included an appendix with a long list of demands that sometimes looked like a list of gifts that Hamas officials want to receive for the month of Ramadan.
Beyond the unrealistic demand that Israel release thousands of murderers from prisons, Hamas's response had strange clauses that the connection between them and a deal to release hostages in exchange for a ceasefire is rather loose.
It's not for nothing that President Biden called her "a little excessive."
For example, senior Hamas officials requested that in exchange for the release of the abductees, they would receive 60,000 trailers from Egypt and Qatar to house Palestinians whose homes were destroyed.
Another request generally dealt with the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Among the demands: 60,000 trailers to house Palestinians whose homes were destroyed.
Gaza Strip/IDF spokesman
In the news center:
Netanyahu, who once again managed to dominate the television news broadcasts that were waiting for his speech, hardly spoke about the abductees.
Instead, he preferred to repeat countless times his "absolute victory" slogan.
Netanyahu stated that he instructed the IDF to prepare to operate also in Rafah and the two refugee camps in the center of the Gaza Strip where the IDF has not yet operated on the ground.
He emphasized that the expansion of the military operation will increase the chance of a hostage deal.
Hamas thinks differently.
Last week, the Prime Minister of Qatar informed the White House officials that in talks with him, Hamas officials emphasized that they are inviting Israel to carry out its threats to act in Rafah.
Hamas's message was that Israel would achieve nothing through such an action and then come to negotiations on terms that are better for the terrorist organization, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The US will continue to pressure Israel, Egypt and Qatar to move forward with the agreement. President Biden/Reuters
What next:
Tonight the war cabinet will meet to discuss the issue of the abductees
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who spoke a few hours after Netanyahu, presented a very different line.
He emphasized that part of Hamas's response includes "non-starters" but at the same time said that the United States believes that it has room to reach an agreement.
The Americans intend to continue pressuring Israel, Egypt and Qatar to move forward with the agreement.
They understand that this is the only way to achieve any kind of ceasefire in Gaza.
Every day that the war continues, it makes Biden's election campaign even more difficult.
The White House also understands that without a prolonged cease-fire there is no chance of realizing the president's "day after" plans - starting with the return of the renewed Palestinian Authority to Gaza and ending with a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
In the talks that will be held tomorrow in Cairo between senior Egyptian intelligence officials and the Hamas delegation led by Ismail Hania's deputy Khalil al-Hiya, the Egyptians will try to get the talks back on track.
Their goal is first of all to reach an agreement on the Paris outline that will allow a real negotiation on the details to begin.
There are quite a few senior Israeli officials who believe that despite the harsh tones now, within a few days the parties will enter into much more significant talks.
More on the same topic:
Hamas
Benjamin Netanyahu