Netanyahu hindering deal again by changing demands, source says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to his “evasive approach” in the Gaza ceasefire talks, hindering negotiations, an Egyptian source has told the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news outlet.

The source, who was described as “familiar with the negotiations,” said in the Wednesday report that the change in the Israeli positions surprised mediators and slowed recent progress made in the indirect talks with Palestinian movement Hamas.

Netanyahu submitted a new list of demands, which included modifications regarding the captives Israel wants to be released, as well as additional conditions related to the timeline for the army’s withdrawal during that phase of the proposed agreement, the source said.

He added that talks were “proceeding very well” until the latest Israeli changes.

“Mediators in Egypt and Qatar were about to reach a nearly final draft of the agreement to present to all relevant parties, especially after Hamas had presented an acceptable formula regarding the agreement’s timeline,” the report said.

Meanwhile, an unnamed “leader in the Palestinian resistance” told the Doha-based outlet that Netanyahu’s recent modifications are a “reversal” of what has been negotiated in the last round. 

According to him, the changes effectively undermine the commitment to a comprehensive deal implemented in gradual and interconnected stages.  

He added that the Hamas negotiating team and Egyptian and Qatari mediators perceive the sudden modifications as representing an extremely high ceiling, which can only be understood as his desire to gain more time until US President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. 

In a separate report on Thursday, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed said a Hamas delegation travelled to Egypt on Wednesday to jump-start the talks despite the shifting Israeli stance. 

More talks are set to be held in Doha, it added. 

Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas leader, said: “There is a great chance that the negotiations will succeed this time.” 

Israel and Hamas have been engaged in indirect talks to secure a ceasefire and prisoner swap deal for over a year. 

Negotiations have stalled for months due to Netanyahu’s shifting positions, which Israeli officials have described as an attempt by the premier to sabotage the chance to strike a deal for political reasons.

Hamas has repeatedly expressed a desire for a prisoner-swap deal that includes a permanent end to the war and the full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. 

Talks have renewed in recent weeks reportedly after a push from Trump’s incoming administration.

Several Israeli and Arab media briefs have suggested that a deal is now closer than ever, but recent reports have downplayed earlier optimism.