Hamas proposes 4.5-month truce, release of hostages and withdrawal of Israeli army
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas' proposed terms for a ceasefire, saying a "total victory" for his country is possible within the next few months.
In a press conference and against the background of reports of Israel-Hamas negotiations, Mr. Netanyahu stated that the negotiations with Hamas "are not going anywhere", while he described its demands as "strange".
The Prime Minister of Israel reiterated the aims of the war:
- Destruction of Hamas,
- return of hostages,
- ensuring that Gaza is not a threat to Israel.
He also said, according to the Times of Israel, that after Khan Younis, Israel's army is ready to fight in Rafah, on the Gaza-Egypt border.
"We will continue until the end," he insisted, stressing that an Israeli surrender to Hamas' demands would be a disaster.
Netanyahu also said the defeat of Hamas would be a "victory for the entire free world" and pledged that the return of the hostages remained a top priority, arguing that increased military pressure would increase the chances of the captives being freed.
"The 'next day' is the day after Hamas," he added, saying only that Israel can ensure the demilitarization of Gaza.
Pressures for a ceasefire
Earlier, an Egyptian official told AFP that a new round of negotiations was to begin in Cairo on Thursday, under the auspices of Egypt and Qatar.
Hamas has agreed to hold talks with Israel, aimed at "a ceasefire, an end to the war and a prisoner exchange deal," a Palestinian source told AFP.
For his part, the Egyptian official said Cairo is urging "both sides to show the necessary flexibility" to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
Last week, a Hamas source said the proposed new truce discussed a six-week ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner exchange, as well as more humanitarian aid for Gaza.
On Tuesday, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdelrahman Al-Thani said he had received an "overall positive" response from Hamas regarding "the general framework of the hostage agreement."
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is on his fifth tour of the Middle East since the start of the war, said for his part he was hopeful of an agreement but much work was still needed.
A new truce proposal is on the table
Israeli authorities will discuss whether to reject Hamas' proposal outright or seek alternative terms, as some of its demands for a new hostage release deal cannot be met, a senior Israeli official said earlier.
There were earlier reports that Hamas proposed a cease-fire plan that would see the guns in Gaza fall silent for 4.5 months, during which time all hostages would be released, Israel would withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip and an agreement will be reached for an end to the war.
Source: naftemporiki.gr