The terrorist group Hamas has published an official statement today (Wednesday) stating that it submitted its answer on the agreement to the mediators, according to Kann reporter Roi Kais.
The statement said that Hamas acted with responsibility and positively, but it did not unequivocally say that Hamas agreed to the deal.
Hamas has reportedly added new conditions to its "yes" to the deal according to al-Jazeera and other sources.
An Israeli source noted that Hamas has made new demands regarding the deployment of the IDF along the Philadelphi axis, contradicting a map already approved by Israel and the American mediators.
The source said that Israel entirely rejects these changes, and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not bend any more.
In addition, Hamas has reportedly demanded that the IDF withdraw to about 700 meters from the Gazan border in accordance with a timetable, contrary to Israel's insistence on a buffer zone a kilometer deep inside the Strip, in order to better protect the south against attacks.
According to reports, the IDF will maintain a diminished presence along the Philadephi corridor dividing the Gaza Strip and Egypt and will entirely withdraw from the area on the last day of the ceasefire stipulated by the first phase of the hostage deal, assuming it is fully implemented on both sides.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a presentation to the foreign press months ago explaining why Israel must have physical control of the axis, as it is easily used for smuggling large numbers of weapons and material to make weapons and could potentially be used to smuggle hostages to Egypt and beyond.
Hamas has repeatedly given equivocal answers regarding a hostage deal, often "going dark" when Yahya Sinwar was in charge for weeks at a time - and this week while his brother Mohammad is in charge - or adding new conditions at the last second. It has also consistently demanded that the deal ultimately end in the IDF's complete withdrawal and an end to the war.
0 Comments