Israel has announced that it had received Hamas’s response to the latest truce-hostage deal proposal and is currently evaluating the document before issuing a reply. This development marks a significant step in the ongoing negotiations aimed at ending hostilities and securing the release of hostages.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement from Mossad, indicating that mediators had conveyed Hamas’s remarks to Israeli negotiators. “Israel is evaluating the remarks and will convey its reply to the mediators,” the statement read.
Hamas confirmed the submission of its latest demands, emphasizing its eagerness to reach an agreement to stop the war and facilitate a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The group accused Israel of attempting to deceive and evade responsibilities.
In a subsequent statement, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh mentioned ongoing communications with mediators in Qatar and Egypt, as well as discussions with Turkish officials. “The movement dealt in a positive spirit with the content of the ongoing deliberations,” Hamas stated.
Over six months of negotiations led by the US, Qatar, and Egypt have yet to yield a concrete deal that would see the release of 116 hostages kidnapped on October 7, a truce in Gaza, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The current proposal, based on a speech by President Joe Biden, is built on a three-stage Israeli outline. Despite initial progress, negotiations have faced setbacks, with Hamas’s June 11 response criticized by the US for including numerous amendments that were deemed unworkable.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted on June 12 that some of Hamas’s changes were not feasible. In recent weeks, mediators have worked to bring Hamas down on some of its demands, leading to the new response submitted on Wednesday. A senior Israeli official described this response as positive enough to advance negotiations after weeks of deadlock.
The new Hamas offer reportedly brings the sides closer to an agreement on Clauses 8 and 14 of the Israeli proposal, which concerns the negotiations during the six-week phase one of the ceasefire and the transition to phase two. Israel aims to keep these clauses vague enough to resume fighting if necessary, while Hamas seeks assurances that fighting will not resume after the initial phase.
Despite the relatively positive response, significant gaps remain. The Israeli government must decide whether to enter a new round of detailed negotiations with the mediators. Should talks proceed, several more weeks may be needed to reach a deal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, informed by the Mossad-led negotiating team, acknowledged the improved Hamas response but emphasized ongoing issues, particularly Hamas’s insistence on a clause barring Israel from resuming fighting after phase one of the truce deal. Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s position of maintaining military and diplomatic pressure on Hamas to secure the release of all remaining hostages.
The primary issue complicating negotiations is Hamas’s demand for an upfront Israeli guarantee of a permanent ceasefire, which Netanyahu has vehemently opposed. He reiterated Israel’s commitment to achieving its war goals, including the elimination of Hamas and the release of all hostages.
As negotiations continue, the internal debate in Israel over prioritizing the return of hostages versus continuing the fight against Hamas has intensified, with mass protests demanding a resolution.
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