From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 26, 2024
Israeli negotiating team fears Netanyahu’s extra conditions for hostage deal ‘intended to cause a crisis’ — reports
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The Israeli negotiating team is concerned that extra conditions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently added to the current hostage-ceasefire deal on the table are “intended to cause a crisis,” according to sources close to ongoing talks cited by Hebrew media.
“He thinks that if he hardens Hamas’s positions he will break them, but he’s taking a dangerous bet on the lives of the hostages. There is no more time,” the sources are quoted as saying by outlets including the Kan broadcaster and the Ynet news site.
They add that Netanyahu had “built up expectations before his trip to the US so that we can improve our position afterward.”
The prime minister is currently in the US, having addressed a joint session of Congress and met with President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris in Washington yesterday, and former US president Donald Trump in Florida this evening.
The premier’s speech to Congress disappointed relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7 who hoped he would commit to a ceasefire-for-hostages deal, talks for which have been said to be in the home stretch.
Families of American-Israeli hostages who met with Biden and Netanyahu at the White House yesterday said they were told Israel would submit an updated deal proposal to Hamas within days.
“Netanyahu is single-minded, and his position does not allow for negotiations to begin,” the sources are quoted as saying. “It’s not clear if he wants a deal.”
The Times of Israel Community.