US, 'Israel' mis-assessed Hamas' firm position on its demands: Axios

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
26 Mar 2024 23:22
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Axios reports that the rift between the United States and "Israel" is widening as "Tel Aviv" accuses Washington of compromising the talks after not vetoing the UNSC resolution.

Hamas' al-Qassam military spokesperson Abu Obeida during a televised speech shortly after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in October 2023 (al-Qassam Military Media)

The Israeli occupation entity recalled its delegation from Qatar after negotiations regarding a prisoner exchange agreement reached a deadlock, with the United States and the Israelis brawling over who is to blame for this outcome, Axios reported on Tuesday.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution on Monday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan. The decision was backed by all permanent members except for the US who abstained.

Following the UNSC's announcement, "Israel" accused President Joe Biden's administration of empowering the Resistance Hamas' negotiating position. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also canceled an Israeli delegation's visit to Washington, which was scheduled to discuss the ongoing developments in Gaza, including the prisoner swap talks and the Rafah invasion, further widening the already existing rift with Biden's administration.

Who's to blame

The Israeli team was called back from Doha, and Netanyahu's office issued a statement blaming Hamas for the talks reaching a dead-end, claiming that the group's stance was due to the UNSC's resolution.

"Hamas's stance clearly demonstrates its utter disinterest in a negotiated deal and attests to the damage done by the UN Security Council's resolution," Netanyahu's office said. "Hamas rebuffed all U.S. offers for a compromise while celebrating the Security Council's resolution."

The Prime Minister's office added that "Israel" will not address "Hamas's delusional demands" but will "pursue and achieve its just war objectives."

The US did not receive the Israeli statement well, with two senior officials stating that it had angered the White House, which described it as an attempt by Netanyahu to continue the dispute with Washington, which was exacerbated one day prior to the UNSC session.

"This statement is inaccurate in almost every respect and unfair to the hostages and their families," one official said.

"Hamas' response was prepared before the UN vote even took place. We will not play politics with this most important and difficult issue, and we will remain focused on a deal to free the remaining hostages," the US official continued.

An advisor to Netanyahu shortly after responded to the official, saying, "Hamas welcomed the UN Security Council resolution and the hostage talks got stuck — this tells you everything you need to know."

Underestimated Hamas' seriousness

However, the US, Qatar, and Egypt remain optimistic, calling the current situation a "pause" and that talks could resume in a few days, a source said, according to Axios.

"The Israelis went back to consult. Everybody still wants to keep talking, so we don't think it's over," the source said.

But another official said that it was a mistake to assume that the Resistance wasn't serious about its demand from the start, describing the current deadlock as much more serious than believed.

"A lot of people thought Hamas wasn't serious in its demands and that the mediators can squeeze them into a compromise. It didn't happen. It should have been clear from the start but some people didn't want to see it," the Israeli official said, adding that Netanyahu did not provide the delegation with enough mandate to help the team make progress.

Furthermore, the official said that the Resistance did not change its stance despite the Israeli military attacks and pressures from the mediations, especially with regard to the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza.

"We are dramatically stuck. It's not for show. There is a substantial gap. We can engage in a blame game but it won't bring the hostages back. If we want a deal, we need to acknowledge reality," the Israeli official said.

Unwavering position on demands

Meanwhile, Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant met with the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Tuesday in Washington in an attempt to calm tensions.

"The negotiation on the hostages issue and Hamas' positions require us to join hands in our military and diplomatic efforts," Gallant said at the beginning of the meeting.

He also met with CIA director Bill Burns, who was also in Qatar last weekend, with the prisoner exchange agreement on the agenda.

The Doha meeting included Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Mossad chief David Barnea, and senior Egyptian intelligence officials.

According to Axios sources, "Israel" agreed to release 700 Palestinian prisoners, including 100 with "life sentences", in return for Hamas releasing 40 captives. However, Israelis ignored the main pillars conditioned by the Resistance for any deal to take place.

A Palestinian Resistance source confirmed to Al Mayadeen earlier that the round of negotiations in Doha "did not lead to anything new" due to the Israeli occupation's stance being "very obstinate".

The source added that "Israel has not offered anything new, except agreeing to a gradual and conditional return of the displaced."

Hamas responded to the proposal on Monday evening, reiterating its main conditions, which included a comprehensive ceasefire, the lifting of the siege on Gaza, the return of forcibly displaced Palestinians to the north, and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Strip. But the occupation only agreed to a "gradual return" of 2,000 Palestinians per day to northern Gaza, while completely ignoring the rest of the Resistance's demands.

In a Monday statement, the Resistance also announced that it had informed the Qatari and Egyptian mediators that it is firm about its terms.

"The responsibility for the failure of the negotiations is on Netanyahu and his extremist government," Hamas said.

"Israel", on the other hand, saw that Hamas is counting on the international public pressure to force the occupation to end the war on Gaza, claiming that the Resistance doesn't want the talks to proceed regardless of Israeli compromises.

"When the director of Mossad read Hamas' written response it was clear we are at a dead-end and that Hamas doesn't want to move forward regardless of the Israeli willingness to compromise. They just want to drag it out so that international pressure on Israel to end the war grows even stronger," a senior Israeli official said.