Hamas Likely to Reject Latest Hostage Deal Proposal
Hamas is on the brink of rejecting a new hostage deal proposal put forward by mediators and approved by Israel. Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official based in Lebanon, expressed the group’s negative stance on the current proposal in an interview with the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV. However, Hamas clarified that this negative position doesn’t signify an end to negotiations but rather indicates ongoing discussions.
The group is expected to submit a modified proposal to the one crafted by Qatari, Egyptian, and American brokers. Israel, having already agreed to release 33 vulnerable hostages in a previous stage of the truce deal, faces uncertainty regarding further concessions in light of Hamas’s opposition.
Hamas’s reluctance stems from its belief that the proposal lacks sufficient guarantees for ending the conflict. An Arab diplomat noted that the proposed ceasefire during the initial six-week phase falls short of Hamas’s expectations for a permanent resolution.
Israel’s Response and Potential Escalation
Israel, for its part, has refused to commit to ending the conflict altogether. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel plans to conduct a large-scale operation in Rafah, aimed at dismantling Hamas’s remaining forces in Gaza’s southern city, regardless of the hostage negotiations’ outcome.
Hamdan cautioned that Hamas would withdraw from the negotiations if Israel proceeds with the planned operation in Rafah.
