Hamas rejected Israel’s latest offer for a ceasefire. However, they said they’d continue talking. Bargaining with terrorists is a bad idea.
The Hamas Demands
- Before agreeing to an initial, short-term ceasefire and partial hostage release, Hamas wants assurances that the eventual freeing of all the hostages will bring the end of Israel’s offensive and its full withdrawal from Gaza, the AP reports.
- The rejected Israel proposal included a 40-day truce in return for the release of hostages and the prospect of displaced families being allowed back to northern Gaza.
- It reportedly also involved new wording on restoring calm to satisfy Hamas’s demand for a permanent ceasefire – surrender.
- On Saturday, Axios cited Israeli officials as saying the proposal included a willingness for the return of people to northern Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the east-west corridor that divides the territory and prevents freedom of movement.
- It also included a willingness to “discuss the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire as part of the implementation of the second phase of the deal,” the officials said.
- Israeli officials and a diplomat meanwhile told the New York Times and Financial Times on Monday that Israel was also prepared to reduce the number of hostages released during the first phase to 33, down from 40.
Israel Plans to Attack Rafah
Israel has offered only a pause, after which it would resume its offensives until Hamas is destroyed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his determination to attack Rafah in talks with Blinken on Wednesday.
Blinken put pressure on Hamas, saying it would bear the blame for any failure to get a deal.
“We are determined to get a cease-fire that brings the hostages home and to get it now, and the only reason that that wouldn’t be achieved is because of Hamas,” Blinken told Israel’s ceremonial President Isaac Herzog at a meeting in Tel Aviv.
“There is a proposal on the table, and as we’ve said, no delays, no excuses. The time is now,” he said.
Obviously, they didn’t care what Blinken said.
Bowing to U.S. pressure to increase aid deliveries, Israel re-opened its Erez crossing into the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday for the first time since it was damaged in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.
Evacuating Before the Attack
Blinken said that before Netanyahu attacks Rafah, he must first evacuate all the civilians. That sounds impossible. Oh, but that’s what we did in Germany when we started bombing them, right? Ohh, no wait…
This is an interesting way to conduct a war.
Hamas wants the eventual freeing of all the hostages in exchange for the end of Israel’s offensive and its full withdrawal from Gaza as the second part of the deal.
Israel has offered only a pause, after which it would resume its offensives until Hamas is destroyed.
Negotiate with murderers that can’t possibly defeat you on the battlefield of their own making? Why????? Finish them! War is brutal, but nothing is settled until the the attackers are totally defeated. Victory is the true pathway to lasting lessons and real peace. Coexistence with Hamas isn’t possible. Give them nothing except more hot lead. They’re surrounded, desperate and dying… Read more »
This offer includes “after a pause we will level the rest of your land” clause.
The real story should be Israel suggests a plan that no one would or should agree to.
Exactly! Israel should not agree to any ceasefire since it will only strengthen the terrorists. It appears your belief is to coddle barbaric terrorists who rape women before and after death, cut off breasts, put babies in microwaves, and burn others alive.
“The Prisoner” – Sinwar’s spokesman. Parroting his reported sentiments.
Trump’s position is a thoughtful one on this situation. He brings properly into question what happened on 10/7. He also questions Bibi’s suspicious behavior. So now all of you “Israel can do no wrong” people, you fake MAGA, you Haley/neocon camp people, have to reconcile yourselves. So, come on now, Christian neocons, Israel Firsters, jump off the Trump train: President… Read more »
You know so little of History, let alone the region. You have proved that on numerous occasions, not knowing the difference between Hamas and Hezbollah. The Jewish State has faced annihilation from the beginning. Something that anyone in the US, including Presidents, are incapable of understanding. There isn’t the danger facing this country by its neighbors. Rather than a few… Read more »
These negotiations are dumber than the those of the War of the Potato Faces in Eastern Europe. Israel’s announced end state is the total destruction of the Hamsters, and the Hamsters’ end state is, “Israel go home so we can rebuild and attack you again later.” Both sides really suck at gaslighting!
Treat Rafah, like the British Royal Air Force and America Army Air Force treated Dresden during WW II.
There was no legitimate military reason to firebomb Dresden. We can see that you support innocent deaths.
The terrorists, started the war with a barbaric attack on innocent civilians. They raped, murdered, kidnapped, and beheaded men women and children. They, like their Nazi predecessors are the embodiment of evil on this earth. That you can find any sympathy for these animals, is proof your concern for “innocent lives” may not always include innocent Jews.
There was a ‘ceasefire’ on Oct. 6th, and many in those kibbutzim who were slaughtered were the ones who supported those people, giving them work, taking them to Israeli hospitals. They were repaid with horrific deaths. One of the horrific murdered women was one who started an organization to support their cause. What did that support get her, by those… Read more »
Innocent??? What do you know of innocents.
Hey! We are dealing with the ‘devil’ here. Hope the IDF FINISHES the job…
IT is necessary! Since 1945, USA politicians always mess up the end of a war, aso qwht they say is worthless.
You go to church Sunday and tell God to send you to heaven someday for your “Israel can do no wrong” belief and associated hatred.