Israeli Negotiators: There is “Close to Zero” Chance of Phased Hostage-Ceasefire Deal with Hamas

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israeli negotiators believe there is now “close to zero” chance of agreeing a phased hostage-ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would see the return of 101 captives who were kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Similarly, having worked to secure a new hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the US Biden administration is understood to be “sad, upset and frustrated” at the stalling of talks.

Citing unnamed official sources, Israel’s Channel 12 TV reported Sunday that Israeli negotiators had, until recently, believed a deal could be brokered with Hamas, TOI reports. However, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence last week that the IDF must retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border – a position he had not taken in a proposed deal he had approved in May – the prospect of an agreement has been “buried,” Channel 12 said in its report.

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly compounded the pessimism on Saturday night when he announced that, in addition to opposing Israel’s withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, he opposes an IDF withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor as well as the release of Palestinians who are serving prison sentences in Israel for murder, TOI reports. Smotrich has unusual war-time power as Netanyahu’s slim-majority right-wing governing coalition would likely collapse if the finance minister pulled his Religious Zionist party’s support for it.

“It appears that the current proposal will not come to fruition at this time. There is no prospect of a phased deal,” a negotiator told Channel 12. “Keep acting to get the public behind bringing about an end to the war.”

Meanwhile, TOI notes, the Axios news outlet has reported that the White House experienced “significant pessimism” at the prospect of a new hostage-ceasefire deal after Hamas demanded the release of 100 more Palestinians serving life terms for murder than had been agreed.

“People at the White House are sad, upset and frustrated” over the state of the talks, a US official told Axios. “We are still working, but we are not about to present anything imminently. We are in a tough spot,” the official said.

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