JERUSALEM: International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas suffered a setback on Wednesday as Israel reportedly recalled its negotiating team and PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of hobbling the high-stakes negotiations by sticking to “delusional” demands.
Netanyahu’s remarks came hours after local media reported that the Israeli leader had ordered an Israeli delegation not to continue talks in Cairo, raising concerns over the fate of the negotiations and sparking criticism from the families of the roughly 130 remaining captives, about a fourth of whom are said to be dead.
The mediation efforts, steered by the US, Egypt and Qatar, have been working to bring the warring sides toward an agreement that might secure a truce in the months-long war. “In Cairo, Israel did not receive any new proposal from Hamas on the release of our captives,” Netanyahu said. “A change in Hamas’ positions will allow progress in the negotiations.” Israeli media reported that Netanyahu told his delegation not to return to the talks unless Hamas softens its demands. Hamas has said it will not release captives until Israel ends its offensive, withdraws from Gaza and releases a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including militants. Hamas officials had no immediate comment.
On Tuesday, CIA chief William Burns and David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, attended the talks in the Egyptian capital, but there were no signs of a breakthrough. The talks continued Wednesday at a lower level, even as deadly violence persisted both in the Gaza Strip and along Israel’s border with Lebanon.
Netanyahu’s remarks came hours after local media reported that the Israeli leader had ordered an Israeli delegation not to continue talks in Cairo, raising concerns over the fate of the negotiations and sparking criticism from the families of the roughly 130 remaining captives, about a fourth of whom are said to be dead.
The mediation efforts, steered by the US, Egypt and Qatar, have been working to bring the warring sides toward an agreement that might secure a truce in the months-long war. “In Cairo, Israel did not receive any new proposal from Hamas on the release of our captives,” Netanyahu said. “A change in Hamas’ positions will allow progress in the negotiations.” Israeli media reported that Netanyahu told his delegation not to return to the talks unless Hamas softens its demands. Hamas has said it will not release captives until Israel ends its offensive, withdraws from Gaza and releases a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including militants. Hamas officials had no immediate comment.
On Tuesday, CIA chief William Burns and David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, attended the talks in the Egyptian capital, but there were no signs of a breakthrough. The talks continued Wednesday at a lower level, even as deadly violence persisted both in the Gaza Strip and along Israel’s border with Lebanon.