Above photo: AP.
Tel Aviv remains insistent on the option to resume the war if things do not go its way in the ceasefire talks.
Israel will not accept Hamas’ request for written assurances regarding negotiations in the second phase of a proposed deal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza.
The Palestinian resistance group is demanding that a cessation of hostilities outlined in the first phase of the proposal be ongoing throughout negotiations in the second phase. However, Israel is insistent on the option to resume the war if negotiations falter.
During David Barnea’s visit to the Qatari capital, Doha, last week, the Mossad chief conveyed the message to mediators that Israel “does not accept Hamas’ demand for a written commitment regarding negotiations for the second phase of the agreement,” Axios reported on 6 July, citing Israeli officials.
The main issues revolve around Articles 8 and 14 of the proposal. Article 8 of the proposal refers to talks between Israel and Hamas that would be held during phase one and would last for six weeks of the agreement, while Article 14 refers to the transition between phase one and phase two.
The proposal was reportedly updated recently with “new language” by CIA chief William Burns and other officials, Lebanese media reported on 4 July. Hamas presented its proposed amendments to the plan on 3 July.
The proposal calls to “make every effort” to ensure the negotiations end in agreement. Hamas’ response called for the phrase “make every effort” to be replaced with the word “ensure.”
“In effect, Hamas wants to ensure that it does not turn over many of the hostages only for Israel to restart the war,” an informed official told the New York Times (NYT) on 6 July.
Another official confirms to NYT that Israel has rejected Hamas’ request. “Israel wants the option to resume fighting if it deems it necessary. Without such leverage, Hamas might drag its feet, effectively obtaining an undeclared permanent cease-fire.”
There are other outstanding issues besides Articles 8 and 14 of the proposal.
In its response, Hamas refused Israel’s veto over releasing Palestinians with life sentences as part of an exchange, a source told Al-Mayadeen on 4 July. The source also said Hamas is insisting on an Israeli withdrawal from the Rafah border crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor.
Israel seized the Rafah crossing on 7 May and began pushing into the southernmost city in defiance of months of international warnings, displacing around one million Palestinians. The Philadelphi corridor, the vital strip bordering Egypt that serves as a lifeline to both the resistance and the people of Gaza, was then seized by Israeli forces later that month.
In mid-June, the Israeli army set fire to and destroyed the Rafah crossing. According to reports at the time, this was part of a US–Israeli plan to transfer the Rafah land crossing to the Kerem Shalom area – where another border crossing that leads from the strip to Israel lies – to tighten supervision and obstruct Hamas members from entering and leaving the enclave.
Tel Aviv has long been calling to establish a permanent presence along the southern Gaza border. Hamas has stuck to its terms in the talks for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Speaking to Al-Arabi, the head of Hamas’ national relations office, Hussam Badran, said on 6 July: “There is a positive outlook from the mediators regarding the movement’s recent stance on the exchange deal. The only obstacle to reaching an agreement is Netanyahu.”