A top Israeli diplomatic official said Friday that notable headway has been made over the past two weeks in the push for a deal with Hamas to free the hostages.
Nevertheless, the source cautioned that major obstacles remain in the discussions. “Hamas is behaving as though time is on its side, but it will find the battlefield tells a different story,” the source warned.
Despite the ongoing difficulties, Israeli negotiators are still stationed in Qatar. “The situation cannot be described as either pessimistic or optimistic,” the source said. “But we must be realistic about Hamas’s conduct.”
The official expressed concern about Hamas’s stalling tactics. “We are approaching a critical juncture. Hamas’s foot-dragging, even if it believes it serves its interests, may ultimately work against it.”
Among the major sticking points in the talks is Hamas’s insistence on freeing a large number of prisoners held in Israel, with disputes persisting over who those prisoners are. There’s also been no agreement on the placement of military forces inside Gaza. The official stressed that Israel won’t return to its positions from earlier this year. “There is no basis for such an arrangement at any stage of the negotiations.”
According to the source, both Minister Ron Dermer and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have maintained consistent communication with the Israeli delegation. “Israel’s flexibility and approach to the negotiations are sound. We have advanced on several issues, though not on all. Once Hamas clears the way on this core matter, we will be able to advance further – on humanitarian concerns, IDF redeployment, and more.”
Meanwhile, Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, claimed Friday that Netanyahu had rejected a Hamas offer to release all hostages. In his first recorded statement since March 6, he warned that without a ceasefire agreement in this phase of the talks, Hamas might not be open to agreeing to smaller, incremental deals going forward.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Y do they constantly report every piece of nonsense “ there is progress”” there isn’t progress “ “ there is” “ there isn’t “ it’s all a waste of time just let us know when something happens yawn yawn
Rafael Chiyun’s listening network already proved that we don’t need to make any deals or mess around with Hamas’s “foot-dragging.”
Hamas (including Sinwar when he was alive) were ready to give up ALL hostages a very long time ago – only they received a second wind when the humanitarian aid started coming in.
It’s very simple: Deny Gaza “humanitarian” aid and the hostages will be freed.
It’s unforgivable that so many have suffered and been killed in captivity, when they could have freed them a long time ago.
And no need to worry about “civilians” because every single Gazan associates with one terrorist group or another (except for the crime families in Rafiach, who are violent, sick criminals engaging in trafficking of all types). The so-called Gazan “children” also participated in looting Jews, physically and mentally and verbally abusing Jews (including other Jewish children), and preteen Gazans also charge Israeli soldiers will shooting at them with AK-47s.