As hostage deal talks appear stuck again, Israel plans to push US to pressure Egypt as well as Hamas
Biden hesitant to 'reward Hamas' with new deal outline after hostages' murder
As U.S. and Israeli officials, for the first time in months, appear to share the same opinion regarding the hostage deal talks with Hamas – the assessment being that the negotiations have reached a dead end for the moment – both parties are reportedly deliberating on how to continue.
According to Ynet News, Israeli officials are planning to push the United States to increase pressure not just on the Hamas terrorist organization, but also on Egypt, which has shifted from being solely a mediator to an active participant in the ongoing negotiations.
Both the Egyptian government and Hamas reject a continued Israeli military presence on the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border.
Israeli officials are expected to ask a delegation from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) which is scheduled to arrive in Israel soon, to relay this message to members of Congress.
Israel will argue that Egypt should be pressured not just because it has allowed Hamas to arm and finance itself through the border, but also because Egyptian officials have benefited financially from the smuggling.
“This is why the Egyptians insist on the Philadelphi Corridor,” a senior Israeli official told Ynet. “The time has come for the U.S. to recognize Egyptian responsibility, instead of attacking Qatar for humanitarian activity that was at the request and coordination of the US and Israel and was managed by COGAT.”
“There is a clear economic interest here for the people who were closest to [Egypt’s president] al-Sisi,” an Israeli source stated.
Israel estimates that if agreements with Egypt on the Philadelphi Corridor are reached, it will be easier to convince Hamas to accept them.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials told Axios that much of their focus shifted to convincing Egypt and Qatar to press Hamas to lower its demands. A "final" proposal, which the U.S. previously indicated would be presented soon, now appears to have been delayed.
The Biden administration is still assessing whether it makes sense to present a new proposal at this moment, with U.S. President Joe Biden hesitant to appear to “reward” Hamas with more concessions after the gruesome murder of six Israeli hostages, according to Walla News.
“It’s a rough period. People at the White House are sad, upset and frustrated. We are still working but we are not about to present anything imminently. We are in a tough spot,” a U.S. official told Axios.
According to Axios, U.S. officials expressed frustration with Netanyahu’s public doubling down, as he reiterated his opposition to a full Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor.
A senior member of the Israeli negotiating team confirmed the American assessment that a deal is unlikely to be reached soon, relatives of hostages held in Hamas captivity told Israel's Channel 12 News.
The senior negotiator said in a recent meeting: “At the moment, it looks like a deal isn’t going to happen. Not even the first phase. The only way forward is to end the war. Keep acting to get the public behind bringing about an end to the war.”
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
