Netanyahu finds Hamas’ hostage exchange demands ‘unreasonable’

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu criticizes Hamas’ latest cease-fire and prisoner exchange offer, calling its demands ‘unreasonable’ amid ongoing negotiations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted strongly, describing Hamas’ demands in its latest offer for an end to the attacks on Gaza and mutual prisoner exchange as “unreasonable”.

According to a report on Israel’s Channel 12 television, Qatar has relayed Hamas’ response to Israel regarding the prisoner exchange agreement.

A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office indicated that Netanyahu expressed that Hamas is “insisting on unreasonable demands” in the new cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement offer submitted to mediators.

The statement mentioned that Netanyahu will provide an update on the agreement to the war cabinet and it will be reviewed on Friday.

Yesterday, Hamas stated that it had presented “a comprehensive proposal based on the principles and foundations it deemed necessary for reconciliation” to the mediator brothers (Egypt-Qatar).

Indirect negotiations between Palestinians, Israel

A meeting was held in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on Feb. 13 between the Tel Aviv administration and Hamas as part of the prisoner exchange agreement.

Later, these negotiations continued in Paris. The Paris negotiations concluded on Feb. 24 with the participation of an Israeli delegation led by Mossad Chief David Barnea, CIA Director William (Bill) Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, and the Hamas delegation.

The Israeli war cabinet decided to send a “low-level delegation” to Doha, Qatar’s capital, to continue the negotiations.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated earlier this week that he would convene the cabinet to approve the plans to attack the southern city of Rafah, where approximately 1.5 million people fleeing the attacks in the Gaza Strip have sought refuge.

Egyptian media announced on March 3 that negotiations had begun in Cairo with the participation of Egypt, Qatar, Hamas, and the United States.

Source: Newsroom

#haber#