Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Wednesday that the terror group Hamas was posing an obstacle to the hostage deal because it was insisting on “unacceptable” clauses that would force Israel to end the war.
This provision would not only end the current conflict, which began when Hamas launched a major terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, but would also prevent Israel from attacking Hamas if it violates the terms of the agreement.
The Israel Times report:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Hamas continues to insist that the hostage negotiations include a clause barring Israel from resuming fighting after the first phase of the agreement.
Israel sought to maintain provisions from the previous proposal that were written vaguely enough to allow it to resume fighting if it deemed Hamas not complying with the terms of the agreement.
…
“Hamas continues to insist on including fundamental provisions in the outline of the agreement that would prevent Israel from resuming fighting after the first phase of the agreement, which is unacceptable to Israel,” said a statement quoted as saying by a senior Israeli security official and sent by Netanyahu’s office to Israeli diplomatic correspondents.
It is now widely acknowledged, including by the Biden administration, which has been pressuring Israel to reach a deal, that Hamas is an obstacle to a deal to release the remaining 120 hostages, many of whom are still alive.
Israel’s war aims are to free the hostages, destroy Hamas and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel. Hamas’ aim is simply to survive and declare victory, but a controversial clause means they can do just that.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He recently published an e-book,The Zionist Conspiracy (And How to Join It)” is available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Not Free or Fair: The 2020 US Presidential ElectionHe is the recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship in 2018. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
