Hamas Adjusts Demands in Hostage Negotiations, Restarting Talks
In a surprising turn of events, Hamas has shifted its demands in the ongoing negotiations with Israel, potentially paving the way for a restart of talks. The militant group is no longer insisting on an immediate permanent cease-fire as a condition for beginning a hostage and prisoner exchange, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
The new proposal put forward by Hamas involves a phased pullback of Israeli troops from parts of the Gaza Strip, as well as the release of hostages in exchange for prisoner releases. This modification of demands has been met with cautious optimism by the White House, which confirmed that talks would resume soon in Doha, Qatar, although without an American delegation present.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that things are moving in a good direction but that doesn’t mean it’s done and we’re going to have to stick with it until the very end,” said John F. Kirby, a national security communications adviser for the White House.
The United States has been applying pressure on Hamas to resume talks and ease its demands, with promises of humanitarian aid and vague threats to close down Hamas’s political office in Doha. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been dismissive of the new proposal publicly, other Israeli officials have reacted more positively, given the recent refusal by Hamas to offer terms for a hostage swap.
Negotiators, including senior Israeli intelligence officials, could arrive in Doha as early as Sunday, according to an official in the region. The proposal aligns with the framework agreed upon by Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States in talks in Paris last month.
While there are still gaps to be closed between the parties, the new proposal is seen as a positive step, particularly as Hamas is no longer demanding a permanent cease-fire. The proposed agreement would involve a phased release of hostages and prisoners, with the first phase focusing on the release of certain hostages in exchange for prisoner releases.
The details of the Hamas proposal were first reported by Al Jazeera, and discussions have been ongoing for weeks on a broader three-phase approach to the release of all hostages held by Hamas and its allies. The willingness of Hamas to adjust its demands could signal a breakthrough in the negotiations and a potential path towards de-escalation in the region.
