Israel has communicated to Egypt that it is giving the ongoing hostage negotiations with Hamas one last chance before launching a military operation in Rafah.
Israeli officials have expressed a willingness to compromise on the number of hostages released, but not to the extent that Hamas is proposing. The current focus appears to be on securing the release of 33 individuals considered humanitarian cases by Israel, though an earlier proposal by Hamas to release only 20 hostages has been deemed insufficient. “This is part of what the negotiations are going to focus on now,” an unnamed Israeli official told Axios, suggesting that the number of hostages released will be linked to the duration of a ceasefire.
A senior Israeli official spoke to Hebrew media highlighting the quality of the talks with Egypt, describing them as “very good, focused, held in good spirits and progressed in all parameters.” The official added that Egypt seemed willing to pressure Hamas toward reaching a deal, noting that Israel is ready to take decisive action in Rafah, with reserves called up in preparation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has taken a firm stance on the military operations, ruling out the possibility of ending the war until Hamas is destroyed as a military and governing force. The Israeli government appears open to making significant concessions, including allowing the return of residents to northern Gaza without stringent checks and the potential withdrawal of forces from a key corridor in Gaza.
On the Egyptian side, the talks have been led by Egypt’s top intelligence official, Abbas Kamel, who brought with him a “new vision” for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza. The conflict continues, the US has been reportedly pushing for a hostage-truce agreement that could lead to a permanent ceasefire, but both Israel and Hamas have remained firm in their demands, with Hamas insisting on a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops, which Israel has rejected.
There is a flicker of hope for the families of the hostages, who have been holding out for a deal between Israel and Hamas. There have been signs of potential movement, with the mention of a limited exchange of hostages and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes as starting points for negotiation. The international community has also ramped up calls for the release of hostages, further adding to the urgency of the talks.
Israel’s preparations for a potential Rafah operation are reportedly complete, and there is a growing sense among defense sources that time is running out for the hostages. They stress that the hostages must be the “top priority,” and the IDF is poised to resume fighting if necessary to ensure their safe release. There is also a concern that a ground offensive in Rafah could deepen international delegitimization of Israel.
Relevant articles:
– Israel tells Egypt it’s giving hostage deal ‘last chance’ before launching Rafah op, timesofisrael.com, 04/27/2024
– Hostage negotiations resume in Israel with Egyptian delegation, NewsNation Now, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:06:13 GMT