Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim yesterday, as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly ruled out, while Jerusalem said it would shut down al-Jazeera’s operations in Israel over its coverage.
In their second day of truce talks in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, Hamas negotiators maintained their stance that any truce agreement must end the war, Palestinian officials said.
Israeli officials have not traveled to Cairo to participate in indirect diplomacy, but yesterday Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s aim since the start of the war nearly seven months ago: to disarm and dismantle the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas for good or else endanger Israel’s future security.
Photo: Reuters
The prime minister said Israel was willing to pause fighting in Gaza to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130.
“But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power,” Netanyahu said. “Israel cannot accept that.”
Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday, demanding that Netanyahu accept a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would see the remaining hostages brought home.
In a statement released yesterday shortly after Netanyahu’s, Hamas’ leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said the group is still keen on reaching a comprehensive ceasefire that ends the Israeli “aggression,” guarantees Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and achieves “a serious” deal to free Israelis being held hostage in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
He blamed Netanyahu for “the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s Cabinet said it would shut down al-Jazeera’s operations in Israel for as long as the war conintues, on the grounds the Qatari television network threatens national security.
Al-Jazeera rejected accusations that it harmed Israel’s security as a “dangerous and ridiculous lie” that puts its journalists at risk and said that it reserved the right to “pursue every legal step.”
The network, which is funded by the Qatari government, has been critical of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported around the clock throughout the war.
“The incitement channel al-Jazeera will be closed in Israel,” Netanyahu wrote on social media following the unanimous Cabinet vote.
A government statement said Israel’s communications minister signed orders to “act immediately,” but at least one lawmaker who supported the closure said al-Jazeera could still try to block it in court.
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