Title: Israeli-Hamas Kidnapping Deal Faces New Hurdles
The process of reaching a deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of abducted Israeli citizens is facing new obstacles as Hamas presents new demands and the timeline for a ceasefire is uncertain.
According to the BBC, an Israeli source revealed that Hamas has presented new demands for the approval of the deal. The Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas now wants the abductees to be handed over to Egyptian officials directly, rather than through the Red Cross. The source claimed that these new demands have postponed the deal for at least 24 hours due to technical difficulties.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to release a statement regarding the new date for the ceasefire. The uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire and the new demands by Hamas is adding further complications to the negotiations.
Furthermore, it was reported that Hamas has raised the issue of the ceasefire again and asked to discuss the terms of the agreement. This has resulted in disagreement and the rejection of the deal.
The head of the Mossad, David Barnea, addressed the issue and stated that Qatar informed him of Hamas’ desire to make changes to the draft agreement, adding to the already existing tensions and disagreements.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Yoav Galant, and Minister Benny Gantz expressed their commitment to releasing the abducted citizens and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel after the deal has been executed. Netanyahu also thanked President Biden for his involvement in improving the outline of the deal.
Meanwhile, the IDF continues to attack in Gaza and has arrested the director of Shifa Hospital, adding to the ongoing military tensions in the region.
With the deal facing multiple challenges and disagreements, the road to reaching a resolution for the release of the abducted Israeli citizens remains uncertain.