And you wonder why it's so difficult to achieve peace between Israel and Hamas.
Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, submitted a 60-day ceasefire proposal to Hamas earlier this week. Israel approved the proposal, and it was guaranteed by Egypt and Qatar.
In a statement on Saturday, Hamas appeared to accept some of the deal, but didn't explicitly say it had accepted or rejected it. Instead, the terrorists submitted a series of "reservations" they want addressed before carrying out the terms of the 60-day ceasefire.
"There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the U.S. guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," a Hamas official said. AP added that he was "speaking on condition of anonymity."
Hamas said that its “proposal” to Qatar and Egypt “aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip.”
CNN:
“As part of this agreement, ten living Israeli prisoners held by the resistance will be released, in addition to the return of eighteen bodies, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners,” the statement said.
Hamas has dropped its demand that Israel fully withdraw from Gaza, and now suggests that the Israeli army should withdraw to where it was stationed at the end of the previous ceasefire in March. That's a significant concession, given their last demand.
They are also demanding that aid be distributed according to "international humanitarian standards." Currently, aid is being distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), sponsored by Israel and the United States. Using international aid groups, including the UN, the World Food Program, and other NGOs would ensure that Hamas would be able to take the lion's share of the food aid and distribute it under their auspices. It's why the GHF was created in the first place.
An Israeli source told Haaretz the new terms amount to a rejection. "They've drafted their own proposal with entirely different elements," the source said. Not rejecting the deal outright buys some time for Hamas and allows international pressure on Israel to build.
The U.S. is applying increasing pressure on Israel to wind down the fighting and deliver aid to Gazans. But Netanyahu has his own problems, and placating the Americans is far down the list. The Israeli prime minister still has to decide on the postwar plan for Gaza and find a way to secure Israel's border permanently. Would that mean moving the bulk of Palestinians out? It would risk international condemnation the likes of which Israel has never seen.
The key Hamas demand is that there be a guarantee that the 60-day ceasefire will lead to to an overall peace. This is something Netanyahu is refusing.
But while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel says he is willing to reach a temporary cease-fire with Hamas, he has ruled out ending the war unless the group lays down its weapons and sends its leaders into exile. Hamas has so far refused those terms and wants firm guarantees that the war will end permanently.
Both sides have faced rising international pressure to halt the fighting.
Israel’s traditional allies, including the Trump administration, have expressed growing impatience and even anger over the protracted war, the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza that have created a risk of famine, and the Israeli threats to significantly widen the offensive against Hamas.
Netanyahu is under enormous pressure to agree to a deal that would return 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies. Hamas has agreed to it with conditions. If Netanyahu rejects the deal now, he needs to show the Israeli people how the delay enhances their security.
It's going to be a tough sell.
