CNN
— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’ proposals for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, describing them as “delusional” and casting a shadow on diplomatic efforts to halt the war.
Netanyahu, speaking during a briefing on Wednesday, stated: “We haven’t agreed to anything. We have not accepted any of the delusional demands of Hamas, including the number of terrorists with blood on their hands [for release].”
“There is no commitment – there needs to be a negotiation, it’s a process, and at the moment, from what I see from Hamas, it’s not happening,” Netanyahu added.
Hamas had responded to a proposal for a deal by calling for an incremental Israeli withdrawal from the enclave over a four-and-a-half-month truce and a strategy to permanently end the war, as per a copy of the group’s counteroffer obtained by CNN.
However, Netanyahu declared on Wednesday that Israel’s objective is “complete victory” and the country will “not settle for less than that.”
“We are on the path to complete victory. The victory is within reach; it is not a matter of years or decades, it is a matter of months,” he said.
Netanyahu’s stance will be a setback for US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently visiting the region in intensified efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the conflict. Nevertheless, the Israeli leader did not rule out the possibility of further negotiations.
Hamas is now set to send a delegation to Cairo to follow up on its propositions for the hostage and ceasefire agreement, as announced by the group’s spokesman Osama Hamdan at a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday.
Hamdan stated that the delegation would travel to Cairo on Thursday “in the context of our eagerness to attain the best results in a manner that serves the interests of our people, alleviates their suffering, and eases their pain.”
The Palestinian militant group governing Gaza had put forth a three-phase deal, each lasting 45 days, that would also involve the gradual release of hostages held in the enclave in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel – including those with life sentences – as well as the initiation of an extensive humanitarian and reconstruction effort.
Blinken mentioned at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Wednesday that the counterproposal “provides room for agreement to be reached,” despite containing what he referred to as “some clear nonstarters.”
In contrast to previous demands, Hamas did not call for an immediate end to the war. Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would occur during the truce and the remaining hostages would only be released once a final deal to end the war was agreed upon, the document revealed.
The proposal was a response to a framework agreement presented by negotiators in Paris at the end of last month. Senior Hamas official Muhammad Nazzal confirmed the authenticity of the text seen by CNN.
Hamas’ response had shifted the focus back to Israel, which is facing strong pressure from its allies to de-escalate the war and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. There have been indications that the United States views the Hamas offer positively, but Netanyahu has pledged not to halt the campaign until Israel eradicates Hamas once and for all.
He reiterated that position after his Wednesday address, telling Israeli media that “sustained pressure, military pressure, is a necessary condition. Giving in to Hamas’ delusional demands will only invite another catastrophe for the state of Israel, another massacre.”
Netanyahu asserted that Israel would only be secure once it “eliminates” Hamas. “Not part of Hamas, not half of Hamas, the entire Hamas.”
An Israeli official familiar with the negotiations informed CNN earlier on Wednesday that there was “no way” his country would accept the Hamas counteroffer.
The Israeli offensive, initiated after the Hamas attack four months ago, has inflicted a grave humanitarian toll on the strip, with tens of thousands dead and the population of Gaza on the brink of famine.
A weeklong ceasefire in November saw the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Israel believes 132 hostages taken during the October 7 attacks remain in Gaza, 29 of whom are believed to have been killed.
Under Hamas’ counterproposal, the first phase of the ceasefire would have included the release of hostages in Gaza, such as women and children under 19 years old not serving in the Israeli military, as well as the elderly and the ill, in exchange for all Palestinian female, juvenile, sick, and elderly prisoners and 500 prisoners named by Hamas, including those serving life sentences and convicted of serious crimes.
It would also involve intensifying humanitarian aid, relocating Israeli forces “outside populated areas,” a “temporary cessation” of military operations and aerial reconnaissance, the commencement of reconstruction work, and allowing the United Nations and its agencies to provide humanitarian services and establish housing camps.
It would also see the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in all areas of the Strip and would ensure unhindered freedom of movement.
Additionally, this first phase would involve commencing indirect talks on “the requirements necessary for a complete ceasefire” and negotiations on the details for the second and third phases.
The second phase, as proposed by Hamas, would entail concluding talks on a cessation of hostilities. During the second phase, all male hostages in Gaza (civilians and military personnel) would be released “in exchange for a specified number of Palestinian prisoners” and Israeli forces would have to completely withdraw from the enclave.
Phase three would seek to exchange bodies and remains of those killed on both sides. It also stipulates that all crossings from the Gaza Strip be opened for trade to resume and for people to move freely. Israel would commit to supply Gaza with its electricity and water requirements.
Finally, Hamas proposed that the guarantors of the agreement would be Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Russia, and the United Nations, with the US not included among the guarantors.
Hamas’ counterproposal had been received optimistically by those involved in the negotiations. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar and a key mediator, stated on Tuesday that Hamas’ response was “positive.”
“The reply includes some comments, but in general it is positive. However, given the sensitivity of the circumstances, we will not tackle details,” Al Thani said in the Qatari capital Doha after meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We are optimistic, and we have delivered the response to the Israeli party.”
President Joe Biden, who was briefed on the Hamas response, described it as “a little over the top” in remarks to the press later on Tuesday, but did not provide further details.
Before Netanyahu’s comments on Wednesday, several Israeli-based civil society groups and human rights organizations had called for an immediate ceasefire and demanded the release of hostages held in the enclave, stating that a pause in fighting would facilitate access to crucial aid to address the humanitarian catastrophe in the strip.
“In more than 120 days of war in Gaza, following Hamas’ egregious attack on October 7, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and internationals, we have witnessed Israeli bombardments and siege policy causing unfathomable death and destruction in the Gaza Strip,” said the statement, which was published jointly by 17 Israeli based groups including ‘B’Tselem’, ‘Combatants for Peace’ and ‘Breaking the Silence.’
This is a developing news story and will be updated
