The New York Times exclusively reported Tuesday that Israel’s negotiating team has become less flexible in recent months over the terms of a deal with Hamas.
The NYT reviewed unpublished documents from late July detailing Israel’s new conditions, which are less flexible than the May terms.
While many doubt Hamas wants to compromise on key terms of the deal, the NYT finds out why a deal remains elusive in a new round of negotiations (starting Thursday).
For example, Israel’s proposal in May did not stipulate that the IDF continue to control Gaza’s southern border. However, it was fixed in July. Regulations have also reportedly tightened on allowing Palestinians to return to their homes.
Members of the Israeli negotiating team told the NYT that the new terms could prevent a deal from being struck.
Israel and Hamas have been holding several talks over the past few months, mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. The withdrawal of IDF troops, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the release of hostages were the main points of discussion.
Some of Netanyahu’s critics blame his new conditions for the lack of a deal, accusing him of prioritizing the stability of his coalition government over the release of hostages.
The PMO responded to NT’s request for comment saying that it did not dispute the authenticity of the documents but denied that the Prime Minister had added new conditions and instead sought clarification on certain points.
“The July 27 letter does not introduce new regulations,” the statement said. “Rather, it includes essential clarifications to help implement the May 27 proposal.”
“Hamas requested 29 changes to the May 27 plan, which the prime minister refused to do,” the statement added.
On Monday, the PMO said Sinwar “has been — and still is — the only obstacle to a hostage deal.”
New regulations
Nevertheless, in a July 27 letter to mediators, the NYT reported that the Israeli negotiations included five additional terms, the most divisive of which was the inclusion of a map indicating that Israel would remain in control of the Philadelphia corridor. A proposal in May suggested that the IDF would withdraw from the zone.
Another term, the NYT argued, was Israel’s demand to screen all displaced Palestinians returning to northern Gaza, despite softening this in May, adding complexity to the deal.
The PMO, however, said the July letter “not only does not contradict the May 27 proposal but also facilitates it”. D
Netanyahu recently said he wants to make sure Hamas doesn’t rebuild in Gaza, saying Hamas wants to “build again and again, and go back to the massacres of October 7 again and again.”
The NYT reported that senior Israeli officials and security chiefs agree with Netanyahu that Israel should set up checkpoints to screen people for weapons. But many don’t think it’s worth delaying the deal for this length of time, especially since the price of hostages’ lives isn’t high.
