Israel demands changes in conditions, Gaza ceasefire talks may fall into deadlock

Israel is demanding changes to its Gaza ceasefire plan and the release of hostages from Hamas, a Western official, Palestinian sources and two Egyptian sources said, putting negotiations over a deal to end the nine-month war that has devastated Gaza in a difficult position.

Israel has demanded that Palestinians who have fled be screened before being allowed to return when the ceasefire comes into effect, the sources said, in contrast to an earlier agreement to allow civilians evacuated to southern Gaza to return home freely.

The Western official said Israeli negotiators wanted to introduce screening measures for civilians returning to northern Gaza, fearing they might support Hamas militants still holed up there.

Palestinian and Egyptian sources also revealed that this Palestinian militia organization refused Israel's request.

According to Egyptian sources, there are still some disagreements over Israel’s request to maintain control of the border between Gaza and Egypt, a request that Cairo has rejected on the grounds that it falls outside the framework of the final agreement agreed upon by all parties.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the White House and Egypt's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on Israel's demands.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, did not comment directly on Israel's demands, only emphasizing that: "President Netanyahu is stalling for time. His position has not changed since then."

Israel's new request comes after US President Joe Biden urged the parties to sign a ceasefire agreement during talks in Washington on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We are closer to a signed agreement than we have ever been," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said, but many differences remain.

In a speech to the US Congress on July 24, President Netanyahu said that Israel is making a "strong effort" to free hostages in Gaza.

The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, left 1,200 people dead and 250 hostages taken. There are still 120 hostages, but the Israeli government believes that a third of them are dead.

Health authorities in Gaza say more than 39,000 Palestinians have died and most of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been forced to flee during the fighting there.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have been trying to broker talks between Israel and Hamas on a framework agreement based on an Israeli proposal and supported by US President Joe Biden.

The framework agreement outlines three phases, the first of which includes a six-week ceasefire and the release of women, elderly and wounded hostages in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Negotiations on phase 2 will be held during the ceasefire period. Large-scale reconstruction will begin during phase 3.

Disagreement

US officials have said for weeks that a deal is close but that there are still many hurdles to overcome. But Israeli officials’ new demand for a screening method for civilians returning to northern Gaza is “off the table,” potentially putting the talks at risk.

Israel is concerned not only about Hamas militants returning to the north, but also about supplies from civilians secretly supporting Hamas, the official said.

Israel also opposes demands that it withdraw its forces from a 14-kilometer-long area along the border with Egypt that the Israeli government calls the Philadelphia corridor, the official and three other sources said.

The Israel Defense Forces have controlled the area since May and say it is a strategic area containing a series of smuggling tunnels that Hamas could use to transport weapons and other supplies.

Egypt claims to have destroyed the tunnels years ago and has established buffer zones and fortifications at the border to prevent smuggling.

Western officials said talks in recent days had focused on “untangling” the issue. A senior Biden administration official, speaking at a news conference before Netanyahu met with the US president, said the process of signing the deal was entering its final stages.

"There are certain things that we need Hamas to do, and there are certain demands that we need Israel to do. And I believe that you will see developments around those demands in the coming week."

Hamas' demands included "the identity of the freed hostage," the official said, without providing further details.

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/israel-yeu-cau-thay-doi-dieu-kien-dam-phan-lenh-ngung-ban-dai-gaza-co-the-roi-vao-be-tac-204240729121543425.htm