While hostage families claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu is trying to torpedo the chances of their loved ones’ release, discussions in Cairo on a truce in Gaza are still ongoing, against a backdrop of reciprocal accusations from the belligerents of hinder any agreement.
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This Saturday, like every Saturday, demonstrations of solidarity with the hostages and against the government took place in Israel. “ It’s you who undermines any agreement », denounced a sign adorned with the portrait of Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in Tel Aviv. In the evening, thousands of people, including relatives of hostages, once again called on the Israeli government to conclude a truce agreement allowing their return.
This demonstration follows 24 hours of tensions, underlines our correspondent in Jerusalem, Michael Paul. After reports emerged that Hamas was preparing to accept many of the Israeli proposals for a truce and the release of hostages, the Prime Minister’s Office issued two statements in the middle of Shabbat, quoting a political official from high rank. Truce or not, the Israeli army will enter Rafah, says this source, whom Israeli media identify as Benyamin Netanyahu. This press release also indicates that there is no question of ending the war Gaza.
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The Israeli government has decided not to send a delegation to Cairo, at least at this stage. The Minister Benny Gantzmain rival of Benyamin Netanyahudescribed his behavior as “ hysterical “. On the far right of the government coalition, the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, evokes a capitulation agreement which would cause “a disaster “.
“ Eager to reach an agreement, but not at any price »
On Saturday, a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya held a first round of discussions in Cairo with mediators who were awaiting the Palestinian movement’s response. There was no no development ” and new discussions are planned for Sunday, indicated a Hamas official who, moreover, repeated Saturday to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the Palestinian movement would not accept ” in no case an agreement that does not explicitly provide for an end to the war “.
“ Our information confirms that [Benyamin] Netanyahu personally slows down deal through personal calculations », Also affirmed this official who requested anonymity. For him, Israel look for ” to recover its captives without having to stop its aggression on Gaza “. Hamas had previously accused the Israeli Prime Minister of increasing comments aimed at “ clearly to frustrate any possibility of agreement “.
“ Obstinacy » from Israel « is likely to compromise the negotiations and Netanyahu bears full responsibility “, he continued. “ We are keen to reach an agreement, but not at any price. »A land offensive on Rafah« will not be a walk in the park and the occupant will pay a high price “, he warned.
Benyamin Netanyahu repeatedly repeats that he is determined to carry out a major offensive on Rafah, a town in the south of the Gaza Strip which he considers to be the last bastion of Hamas. He rules out stopping the war that has been going on for seven months before having “ destroyed » the Islamist movement. On Friday, Hamas said it was going to Cairo in a “ open mind », while insisting on its demands: “ a total cessation of aggression » Israeli and « withdrawal » Israeli forces from Gaza. On Saturday, an Israeli official, in turn, accused the Palestinian movement of blocking any agreement by insisting on its demand for an end to the war.
The mediators – Egypt, Qatar, United States – have been trying for months to force a truce from Israel and Hamas. The latter is supposed to include in particular a pause in the Israeli offensive and the release of Palestinian detainees in exchange for that of hostages kidnapped during the unprecedented attack carried out by the Palestinian movement on October 7 in Israel. Since then, Israel and Hamas have only concluded one truce, at the end of November. It lasted a week and allowed the release of 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis and dual nationals, exchanged for 240 Palestinians held by Israel.
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