Netanyahu's add-ons hamper final deal with Hamas: NBC News
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Multiple officials have said that Netanyahu's actions in negotiations have disrupted the negotiations process, confirming the statements of the Palestinian Resistance.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu poses ahead of a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, the United States, on July 25, 2024. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added further conditions that have hampered mediated negotiations with the Palestinian Resistance for a ceasefire, US and officials from other countries told NBC News. The information obtained by the American broadcaster confirms multiple statements issued by the Palestinian Resistance factions, including Hamas, which explained, on multiple occasions, that Netanyahu is doing his best to evade a ceasefire and prolong the war on Gaza.
Other than the additional clauses that change the entire structure of previously proposed deals, the Israeli regime also assassinated the top Palestinian negotiator and Hamas leader, martyr Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, Iran, plunging the entire area into a heightened state of tension.
As reported by Palestinian Resistance leaders who spoke to Al Mayadeen following recent rounds of mediated talks, the Israeli negotiating team was instructed to add clauses that would put restrictions on the release of a number of Palestinian detainees in exchange for Israeli captives, allow the establishment of Israeli occupation forces checkpoints in the Gaza Strip during periods of truce, and maintain "Israel's" occupation of the Philadephi Axis and the Rafah border crossing.
When the outlines of a deal are agreed on with the Israeli negotiating team, the information would be sent to Netanyahu, who, according to a Middle Eastern official, cited by NBC News, "would then move the goalposts and propose new conditions."
A meeting between negotiators and mediators is scheduled for Thursday in Doha, Qatar, but Hamas will not participate in the meetings, a senior Resistance official told Al Mayadeen earlier today.
Read more: Israelis living in 'nerve-wrecking' period anticipating Iran response
Hamas questions talks after agreed to outline was undermined
The official indicated on Wednesday that the Palestinian Resistance movement refuses to restart negotiations unless they are based on the last ceasefire proposal presented on July 2. Additionally, Hamas asserted that Netanyahu has set new conditions that undermine the negotiation process.
On Tuesday, a source within Hamas confirmed to Reuters that the movement is holding on to its demand, calling for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement the movement approved on July 2 and compelling "Israel" to comply with it instead of engaging in new rounds of negotiations.
The source denied allegations published by CNN that the movement's representatives were scheduled to attend the Doha meetings, asserting that all such claims were "incorrect".
The source also stressed that "what we [Hamas] need is implementation, not more talks," consistent with a previous statement issued by the movement.
Read more: After Haniyeh killing; US, Qatar, Egypt call for meeting to reach deal
We will not engage in talks that provide cover for Netanyahu: Hamas
On his part, Hamas representative Ahmad Abdel Hadi told Al Mayadeen that "the current atmosphere is clearly one of deceit and stalling by Netanyahu, killing time while the Axis [of Resistance] prepares to respond to the assassinations of martyrs Ismail Haniyeh and Fouad Shokor."
"The intention is to bring the [Hamas] movement back to square one, which is not in the interest of our Palestinian people," he stressed, making it clear that Hamas will not take part in negotiations that provide cover for Netanyahu and his "extremist government".
The Hamas official pointed out that the assassination of the movement's political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the Al-Tabieen school massacre in Gaza City confirm that Netanyahu is intent on escalating the aggression.
He told Al Mayadeen that Hamas' position is based on a firm conviction that Thursday's negotiations would start from a stage prior to square one, noting that the movement has found it unproductive to start from points that have already been surpassed. Abdel Hadi emphasized that the Hamas movement is ready for detailed discussions only if the negotiators adhere to the July 2 paper.
Read more: For Gaza ceasefire, Hamas says implementation needed not more talks
