Media reports say the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has dropped a key demand as a condition for the release of the remaining hostages: that Israel agree never to fight the group again.
Hamas’ demands have been a major sticking point for months in negotiating a deal to free Israeli hostages taken in the Oct. 7 terror attacks. About 120 hostages remain in Gaza, at least 50 of whom are believed to be alive.
The Israel Times report:
Washington’s phased agreement would initially include a “full and complete” six-week ceasefire and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of many hostages, including women, the elderly and the injured. During the 42-day period, Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza and displaced people would be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza, the two people said.
During this period, Hamas, Israel and the mediators will also negotiate terms for a second phase that would see the release of the remaining male hostages, both civilians and soldiers. In return, Israel would release additional Palestinian prisoners and detainees, according to officials. A third phase would see the return of the remaining hostages, including the bodies of the captives, and the start of a multiyear reconstruction project.
Hamas still wants “written guarantees” from the intermediaries that Israel will continue to negotiate a permanent ceasefire once the first phase of the ceasefire takes effect, the officials said.
There are still weekly protests in Israel in support of the hostage deal and against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While the Israeli left blames Netanyahu for the failure of negotiations so far, outside observers, including President Joe Biden, who has supported efforts to remove Netanyahu from office, agree that Hamas is to blame for the failure of the talks, given the Israeli government’s willingness to compromise on almost every point of negotiation.
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 is the author of “Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” which is available for preorder on Amazon. He also wrote,Trumpian virtue: The lessons and legacy of Donald Trump’s presidency” is available on Audible. He is the 2018 recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
