LONDON: Israel has been accused of making efforts to sabotage a US-backed ceasefire proposal by adding new conditions after initially agreeing to the truce plan, Israeli media outlets reported on Sunday.
Recent developments had sparked optimism for a potential ceasefire in Gaza, with indications that Hamas had tentatively endorsed a new phased proposal for cessation of hostilities.
According to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, Egyptian officials and representatives of Hamas said that the Palestinian group had conceded a critical demand: that Israel commit to a permanent and complete ceasefire.
Sources within Hamas informed Reuters that they were awaiting Israel’s response to their concession.
However, the situation took a turn when David Barnea, chief of the Mossad foreign intelligence service, was sent to Qatar over the weekend, where talks were underway. Barnea reportedly presented mediators with a fresh set of conditions, sparking concerns of potential delays in truce talks.
Haaretz, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that these new Israeli demands could potentially push back negotiations by “at least three weeks,” with uncertainty looming over whether Hamas would agree.
“Hamas had already accepted the latest terms presented by Israel,” the source informed Haaretz. “However, during Friday’s meeting, Israel introduced new points that it insists Hamas must agree to.”
Criticism has been mounting against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from opposition parties, media outlets, and families of Israeli hostages, accusing him of obstructing efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages for political gain.
Netanyahu has faced allegations of consistently pulling back from hostage negotiations as potential agreements draw near. In recent months, he has been accused of impeding progress towards ending the conflict through public statements, covert communications, or by limiting the authority of negotiating teams.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 38,153 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed during the nine-month conflict.
