Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu’s office Sunday night released a list of his government’s red lines – non-negotiable demands – for negotiations on a ceasefire deal with the Hamas terrorist organization that would see the release of Israelis it holds hostage in Gaza. At the same time, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) claimed that Netanyahu’s insistence on continuing with the military offensive in Rafah is what forced Hamas to agree to return to the negotiating table.
Israeli delegations are set to travel to Cairo, Egypt, and Doha, Qatar, later this week for renewed negations for the release of the hostages. The hostages have been held there since they were taken captive during the Hamas terror massacre of October 7, 2023.
“The Prime Minister’s steadfast position against the attempt to halt IDF action in Rafah is what has led Hamas to enter negotiations,” said the PMO.
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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began its offensive in Rafah despite demands from the American government that the Israeli military not do so due to concerns over the safety of civilians in the city. Benjamin Netanyahu is proud of his decision to defy the American government on this matter.
The Israeli government has long maintained that Hamas deliberately makes unreasonable demands that it knows Israel cannot accept in order to avoid reaching a deal for the hostages’ release. However, Benjamin Netanyahu’s detractors claim that it is the Prime Minister who is not interested in reaching a compromise because the right-wing members of his cabinet would bring down his government should he do so.
As for the Netanyahu government’s demands, the PMO issued a list of what it said are “principles” Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has already settled on.
These include:
1. Any deal with Hamas will allow Israel to resume fighting until all of the objectives of the war have been achieved.
2. There will be no smuggling of weapons to Hamas from Egypt to the Gaza border.
3. There will be no return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip.
4. Israel will maximize the number of living hostages who will be released from Hamas captivity.
“The plan that has been agreed to by Israel and which has been welcomed by President Biden will allow Israel to return hostages without infringing on the other objectives of the war,” said the PMO.
More than 1,200 people were murdered during the October 7 Hamas terror attack. Many, including children, were burned alive. Hundreds were taken to Gaza as hostages. More than one hundred are still believed to be held there; however, Hamas has not given proof of life for the hostages it holds.