From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Israeli official: Egyptian proposal is for extended truce in Gaza, not an end to the war
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
The updated hostage deal proposal given to Hamas by Egypt was not an Israeli offer, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel, but was instead an Egyptian proposal that Israel is fully open to discuss.
The official notes that the proposal is not for an end to the war, but an extended ceasefire that will allow hostages in the “humanitarian” category — the elderly, children, women, and badly wounded — to be released.
Hamas still has not indicated whether it is willing at all to discuss the proposal, and if it does, Israel will send a delegation to Cairo to negotiate, says the official.
Israel “has an interest” that Egypt remains at the center of the talks, says the official, adding that Qatar remains updated behind the scenes, and will want to take full part in mediation if there is progress. “Turkey has no role,” says the official, contradicting earlier reports.
The official says that US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat this week to punish those responsible if the hostages aren’t released before his inauguration should have a positive effect on attempts to reach a deal. “Hamas takes it seriously, especially now that they are isolated in the campaign.”
Israel is speaking to both the Biden administration and the Trump team about the hostages, says the official, but won’t say whether Trump’s Truth Social post was coordinated with Israel. “They hear our claims, and we see eye to eye with them on the need to apply pressure on Hamas,” was all the official would offer.
Israel has begun applying more military pressure on Hamas in Gaza in recent days, says the official.
Turning to Lebanon, the official denies French claims that Israel has violated the terms of the ceasefire with Hezbollah. “There are understandings in the side letter with the US that allow us to operate against any threat, and that is what we are doing.”
The official stresses that the letter allows Israel to strike not only at active threats, but also at attempts to build up military capabilities.
If there are violations that are not immediate threats, Israel will go through the US-French oversight body, says the official, but that body still coming together. “We need to let it prove itself. But we also want to establish that we will act against all threats.”
