An Israeli newspaper reported that the US administration exchanged “sharp” messages with the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while his Defense Minister Yoav Galant continues in Washington the “third phase” discussions in Gaza.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, citing unnamed sources, reported an exchange of messages, which it described as sharp, in the last hours between the administration of US President Joe Biden and Netanyahu’s office.
The newspaper reported that the American side considered that Netanyahu’s statements, which he made on Sunday regarding the exchange deal, harmed the pressure on the Hamas movement.
Yesterday, Netanyahu told Israeli Channel 14 that he is not ready to stop the war before eliminating the Hamas movement. He added that he was ready for a partial deal that would return some of the movement’s detainees, after which the war would resume until its goals were achieved, as he put it.
But he later retracted these statements and said during a session before the Knesset that Israel is committed to the proposal adopted by the American President, and to return all Israeli prisoners detained in Gaza, whether living or dead, without exception.
Within the messages exchanged between the Biden administration and Netanyahu’s office, the American side – according to Yedioth Ahronoth – demanded that Netanyahu loudly declare his commitment and say that he fully supports the plan.
Aid delivery
In this context, the US State Department said that Secretary Anthony Blinken assured Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that delivering aid to Gaza in cooperation with the United Nations is necessary.
The US State Department added that Blinken stressed to Gallant, in their meeting during the latter’s visit to Washington, the importance of reaching a diplomatic solution that would allow Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes.
Blinken stressed to Gallant the importance of avoiding further escalation of the conflict on the Lebanese border, and also discussed with him the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
The US State Department indicated that Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ strict commitment to Israel’s security.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that the talks he is holding with the US administration are related to the differences between the United States and Israel.
Gallant added in a press statement that he would discuss with the US Secretary of State the transition to the third phase of the military operation in Gaza.
Meanwhile, a number of American pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated in front of the State Department headquarters in Washington, in protest against Gallant’s visit to the American capital.
The demonstrators raised banners calling for an end to the war in Gaza and an end to American support for Israel.
Upon Gallant’s arrival to meet with Minister Blinken, the demonstrators chanted slogans calling on Washington to arrest Gallant and prosecute him for what they called genocide crimes committed by his army against Palestinian civilians.
“Partial” deal
Commenting on Netanyahu’s statements regarding the “partial” deal he spoke about, the Times of Israel reported that an Israeli source familiar with the negotiations with Hamas told Channel 12 that those statements “caused damage that will be very difficult to repair and at a terrible time when it was directed.” “All pressure” on Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.
“His statement was actual sabotage. It is difficult to see how we can reach a deal in the near future,” the source said. “The game is over for a deal,” he said, adding that he was “giving up on the release of the kidnapped soldiers and the opportunity to try to bring women, soldiers and the elderly home.” Firstly”.
Hamas position
On the Hamas side, the movement’s leader, Izzat al-Rishq, confirmed that Netanyahu’s real position is not to reach an agreement, and to evade to buy time and continue the war of extermination.
He added in a statement that it has become clear to the world that Netanyahu is the one who rejects and disrupts what was stated in Biden’s speech and the recent Security Council resolution, and not the Hamas movement.
The leader of the movement, Khalil Al-Hayya, told Tel Aviv Tribune that Hamas is committed to the principles announced by US President Biden and is ready to negotiate seriously based on those principles.
In a previous interview with Tel Aviv Tribune, Al-Hayya expressed Hamas’s hope that the mediators would succeed in forcing the Israeli occupation to reach a deal and end the war.
He added that he does not expect the region to calm down, because Netanyahu is “inciting war on all fronts for his political survival,” as he put it.
He added that if the occupation expands its war to include Lebanon, “it will open a great fire against itself,” stressing that Netanyahu wants to prolong the war to cover up its failure during 9 months.
For his part, Muhammad al-Hindi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, told Tel Aviv Tribune that Netanyahu wants to continue the war and aggression and that he is only seeking to recover some prisoners from the Gaza Strip.
Al-Hindi added that this position has been clear and consistent since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.