The Biden admiration’s hopes of a Gaza ceasefire before the beginning of Ramadan this weekend appear to have been dashed as terrorist group Hamas continues to make new demands, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
The NYT article discloses that “in recent days, Hamas has backed away from the proposed agreement and made demands that Israel refuses to meet.” The terror group’s demands include freeing more terrorists from Israeli prisons, a permanent truce, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Jerusalem had agreed to a temporary ceasefire and the release of hundreds of convicted terrorists in exchange for captive Israeli women, elderly, and children, but Hamas issued fresh demands, Israeli media reports suggest. “Israeli officials reportedly believed the first phase was agreed upon, for a temporary ceasefire along with the return of 40 hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners, but the terrorist organization Hamas suddenly increased its demands,” the Israeli TV channel i24NEWS reported.
Hamas’s demands keep rising while the terrorist group refuses to provide the names of the hostages who are still alive after five months of captivity. Estimated 134 Israeli hostages, including women and children, are believed to be in Gaza, many of them being subjected to repeated rape and torture, a recently released United Nations report shows.
The New York Times reported:
Talks between Israel and Hamas over the release of dozens of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have stalled, dimming hopes that a deal could be reached before Ramadan begins in a few days, according to several people briefed on the conversations.Negotiators had been discussing a proposal for an initial six-week cease-fire during which Hamas would release about 40 people — including women, elderly and ill hostages, and five female Israeli soldiers — for a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners.The discussions included terms for releasing at least 15 prisoners convicted of serious acts of terrorism who would be exchanged for the female soldiers. The terms also said Israel would release hundreds of other detainees or prisoners, at an average of 10 Palestinians for every Israeli civilian freed, officials said.American officials had said that they hoped to reach an agreement to release some hostages and put in place a temporary pause in fighting before Ramadan, which is expected to start this Sunday. President Biden expressed confidence last week that a deal was within reach.But in recent days, Hamas has backed away from the proposed agreement and made demands that Israel refuses to meet, according to officials briefed on the talks. The negotiations had been taking place in Doha, Qatar, before they moved to Cairo in recent days. (…)One official in the region said the main point of difference is the same one that has hovered over the talks for weeks: Hamas wants Israel to commit now to a permanent cease-fire during or after three phases of hostage releases, while Israel refuses to do so. Israel wants to focus on an agreement for the terms of the first phase only, a position the United States supports. Until now, the discussions around the first phase have centered on the potential release of those 40 people, out of about 100 remaining hostages.The Israeli delegation has not attended the sessions in Cairo because of Hamas’s new demands. Israeli officials said they believed a broad consensus for the first phase of the agreement had been reached, only to have Hamas renew its push for broader demands.Besides the permanent cease-fire, Hamas is also insisting on a withdrawal of Israeli troops from northern Gaza after the third phase of the hostage releases and greater aid into Gaza, with a guarantee that half go to northern Gaza, the official in the region said. These demands are ones that can be worked out between the Israeli government and Hamas, officials said. (…)American officials continue to push for a deal. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met in Washington with Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet who might eventually challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his office. (…)People familiar with the negotiations believe Hamas has issued new demands for a variety of reasons.On Feb. 28, Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas political leader based in Qatar, called publicly for a march during Ramadan in Jerusalem at the Al Aqsa Mosque, known to Jews as the Temple Mount. Some Israeli officials believe Hamas’s military wing wants those protests to turn violent. Hamas may want to avoid a cease-fire deal for fear of being accused of breaking it if the protests become violent.Hamas, according to people briefed on the talks, believes an action at the mosque will show its strength despite the monthslong Israeli military campaign in Gaza and could increase pressure on Mr. Netanyahu to end the fighting.https://twitter.com/IsraelinGeneva/status/1765660361951223930
With Hamas continuing to stall hostage negotiations, the Biden White House is reportedly considering a halt on weapons exports if Israel went ahead with the plans of freeing the captives by launching a military operation on the last remaining terrorist stronghold of Rafah.
“The Biden administration, worried about a new humanitarian catastrophe, appears to be considering ways to prevent Israel from using U.S. weapons if it attacks the densely populated area around the city of Rafah,” The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
Israeli government officials have vowed to capture Rafah if Hamas refuses to free the hostages by Ramadan, set to start on March 10. “The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know — if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue everywhere, to include the Rafah area,” Israel’s war-time cabinet minister Benny Gantz warned mid- February.
Hamas, instead, has threatened Israel with more terrorist attacks during Ramadan. The terrorist group threatened to “escalate the confrontation” if Israel restricted the entry of military-age Palestinian men to the Temple Mount during the month of fasting.
“Let our enemy know that souls are boiling… [our] anger is imminent… and an explosion is coming in response to any restrictions on the entry of Muslims to Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan,” Hamas said in a statement released February 24.
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