Israel’s Channel 12 reported a consensus among security agencies on pursuing a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, despite Prime Minister Netanyahu’s withdrawal of negotiators from Qatar over unmet conditions. Army chief Eyal Zamir indicated that military pressure could create favorable conditions for negotiations, asserting that a deal remains possible. Netanyahu reiterated that he would only accept a temporary ceasefire for hostage returns, imposing new conditions, while Israeli opposition claims he is prolonging the war to appease far-right allies.
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US envoy says Hamas response to ceasefire proposal ‘unacceptable’
Hamas has submitted its response to a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal, which was deemed "totally unacceptable" by US negotiator Steve Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While Hamas expressed a positive outlook, it emphasized the necessity for a permanent ceasefire, a point of contention for Israel, which is focused on defeating Hamas following the October 2023 attacks. The ongoing conflict has led to dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, with the UN warning of famine...
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