Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has announced a new obstacle to reaching a peace deal with Hamas. Israeli officials say the Palestinian movement Hamas has introduced new demands at the last minute in talks over the deal, which is seen as an attempt to exert pressure and extract additional concessions from Israel.
The talks, brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, were aimed at a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and a prisoner exchange. However, Netanyahu's office said Hamas had amended the previously agreed-upon text of the agreement, casting doubt on its intention to reach a compromise. This latest demand by Hamas is said to be delaying a process that is already on the verge of collapse due to differences in the parties' positions.
In response to these moves, Israeli officials said the cabinet would not meet to approve any agreement on Gaza until mediators confirmed that Hamas had agreed to all points of the deal without new conditions. This stance underscores Israel's determination not to make further concessions, especially when Israel believes Hamas is using the negotiations as a tactic to buy time and strengthen its position.
The context for these negotiations is a long-running conflict that escalated after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties and hostage-taking. Israel then launched a major military operation in Gaza, seeking to destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure and free the hostages. Despite its military successes, Israel faces international pressure to cease fire and seek a diplomatic solution.