Media: Israel's new demands complicate Gaza ceasefire negotiations

For weeks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly denied efforts to block a cease-fire deal in Gaza by hardening Israel’s negotiating stance.

Netanyahu has consistently blamed Hamas for the deadlock, even as senior Israeli security officials have privately accused him of obstructing the process, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Recent revelations, however, suggest otherwise. According to unpublished documents, Netanyahu's government has introduced new conditions to Israel's demands, complicating negotiations further. These additions, communicated to American, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators in late July, imposed stricter terms beyond those proposed in late May.

While Hamas has also been criticized for its reluctance to compromise on key issues and has requested numerous revisions throughout the process, the documents indicate that Netanyahu's behind-the-scenes maneuvering has significantly influenced the stalled negotiations. As a new round of talks approaches on Thursday, the path to an agreement remains uncertain.

Among the latest conditions introduced in the negotiations, a document presented to mediators shortly before a Rome summit on July 28 proposed that Israeli forces should retain control of Gaza’s southern border—a stipulation not included in Israel’s earlier proposal from May. Additionally, the new terms show reduced flexibility on the issue of allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza once the fighting ceases.

Some members of the Israeli negotiating team worry that these new demands could jeopardize the potential deal, according to two senior officials who requested anonymity.

The ongoing indirect negotiations, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, have aimed to end the violence in Gaza, secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas, and achieve the release of hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel. While Hamas has also been resistant to compromise, critics within Israel accuse Prime Minister Netanyahu of exacerbating the deadlock. They argue that his new conditions could derail the negotiations at a crucial juncture, suggesting that Netanyahu may be prioritizing the stability of his coalition government over achieving a cease-fire. His small parliamentary majority relies on far-right lawmakers whose support hinges on preventing a cease-fire agreement.