by Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff
Netanyahu met with families of the hostages in Washington Wednesday night, saying that tremendous efforts are being made to bring everyone back.
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Hamas has raised objections to Israel’s second ceasefire proposal, which was submitted to mediators and outlines the deployment of IDF forces in the Gaza Strip during the proposed 60-day ceasefire.
The updated offer, presented late on Wednesday, includes increased Israeli flexibility regarding the presence of the IDF during the ceasefire in the area stretching south from the Morag Corridor toward the Philadelphi Corridor, located along the Gaza-Egypt border.
One source described the situation to The Jerusalem Post as a “stalemate,” while another said, “We thought things would move faster due to American and Qatari pressure. At least a few more days of negotiations will be needed.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with families of hostages on Wednesday and told them that, under the current circumstances, a comprehensive deal could not have been reached. “There was no such option,” Netanyahu said. In response to questions about who might be released under the deal, he told the families: “All of them are humanitarian cases. It will likely be Hamas that decides who will be released.”
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said that at the beginning of the 60-day ceasefire, “we will enter negotiations for a permanent end to the war, meaning a permanent ceasefire.”
He clarified Israel’s conditions: Hamas must disarm, Gaza must be demilitarized, and Hamas can no longer maintain any governing or military capabilities. “If this can be achieved through negotiations, all the better. If not, we will achieve it through other means - by force, through the strength of our heroic army.”
A source familiar with the negotiations told the Post that Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is planning to push for talks on ending the war from the very first day. “He’s planning for the talks to begin immediately and intends to travel to Qatar in person to start them,” the source said.
Hamas claimed on Wednesday that on its side, there were several sticking points, including the flow of aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and "genuine guarantees' for a permanent ceasefire." Although it has agreed to release 10 hostages, the terror group described the talks as "tough" due to Israel's "intransigence."
The families of hostages give a clear message: 'Don’t leave anyone behind'
Families of hostages called for a complete deal that would see the return of all remaining 50 hostages in a rally at Washington DC on Monday.“We are here to remind President Trump and PM Netanyahu that there are 50 hostages to be released. We cannot accept a deal for a partial release”, says Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
He also added: “A partial deal would mean that some of the hostages will stay in the tunnels for more time, and this would be a death sentence. Please make a deal that will bring all the hostages home.”
Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-860622
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