Exclusive: ‘Israel' asked US to exclude permanent ceasefire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
10 Sep 2024 16:14
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An exclusive source confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the Israeli occupation requested that Washington not offer a "permanent ceasefire" or "complete withdrawal" from the Gaza Strip in the agreement, which made it unable to present a proposal that is acceptable to "Israel" and the Resistance.

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In this Dec. 14, 2014, file photo, masked Palestinian Resistance movement, Hamas, rally to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the group in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Palestine. (AP)

A source within the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen that mediators had conveyed to the Resistance that the United States' was unable to present a proposal acceptable to both "Israel" and Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas.

According to the source, "Israel" pressured the US administration not to offer Hamas a ceasefire proposal without its approval, and had insisted that Washington omit any terms such as a "permanent ceasefire" or a "complete withdrawal" from the Gaza Strip from the agreement.

It is important to note that US President Joe Biden previously remarked that Netanyahu "is not making enough effort" to reach an agreement for the release of Israeli captives being held in the Gaza Strip, he said in response to a question from reporters at the White House.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported earlier that a source familiar with the negotiations stated, "Netanyahu prioritizes continuing the war over retrieving the prisoners [captives]."

In turn, Reuters, citing 10 sources familiar with the talks, noted that Israeli occupation conditions, particularly maintaining a military presence inside the Gaza Strip, specifically along the Philadelphi Route, are complicating negotiations and delaying a ceasefire agreement.

The sources told Reuters that the disagreements stem from conditions set by "Israel", since Hamas had agreed to a version of the ceasefire proposal, which Biden had revealed earlier in May.

For its part, the Resistance in the Gaza Strip holds Israeli occupation's leaders responsible for undermining mediation efforts by persisting with aggression and reneging on previous agreements, particularly the proposal they accepted on July 2nd.

All Palestinian Resistance factions maintain that their position, along with that of the Palestinian people, regarding any agreement, is based on "a complete cessation of aggression, a full withdrawal from Gaza, the start of reconstruction, and a serious prisoner exchange deal."

Herzog: Cost of deal high, higher if hostages aren't returned

Amid the escalating political divide, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has emphasized the need for "unity in the political system" during this crucial time, as reported by Israeli TV channel Makan.

Herzog emphasized that "Israel" is facing a "pivotal moment" requiring unified efforts to secure the release of captives held in the Gaza Strip.

In a meeting on Monday with the families of female soldiers who are currently captives in Gaza, Herzog noted that the "price of the deal is high" and warned that "the cost will be significantly higher if we fail to return the hostages." He urged the entire Israeli political system to "come together and make decisive moves" to facilitate the captives' release.

The Otzma Yehudit party, led by Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, sharply criticized Herzog, accusing him of "collaborating with Hamas propaganda" and the "blood libel of the extreme left." The party declared its continued opposition to any prisoner exchange deal that might result in "additional casualties and captives in the future."

Furthermore, Otzma Yehudit condemned Herzog’s call for a "unity government" to address the captive situation, labeling it as "irresponsible and aligned with Hamas and the extreme Left." The party advocated for "increased and sustained heavy military pressure" on Gaza and calls for halting humanitarian aid and fuel shipments to the region "until all hostages are released."

On his part, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich supported Herzog's stance that the government is "striving hard to return the hostages alive" but emphasized that it is not willing to "commit collective suicide" to achieve this goal. He also criticized the slow progress in "eliminating Hamas's civil rule."

Additionally, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have previously threatened to withdraw from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government if it agrees to any ceasefire or prisoner exchange with Gaza. This has intensified accusations that Netanyahu is leading a government of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich and is obstructing a prisoner exchange deal to avoid destabilizing his administration.