The United States is trying to pressure Hamas to reach an agreement even before the end of the current phase of the intense war on the Gaza Strip, but yesterday, Sunday, the Americans requested a change in the Israeli offer for the deal. In Washington they focused on one word, but it has great meaning.

Senior officials familiar with the details of the negotiations explained to Israeli Channel 12 that the new wording proposed by the Americans focuses specifically on Article 8 of the agreement, which talks about the negotiations that will take place in the first phase of the deal in relation to the second phase. The truth is that the amendment proposed by the Americans focuses on only one word. .

It is the wording of the eighth article that was discussed: “No later than the sixteenth day, indirect negotiations shall begin between the two parties to summarize the conditions for implementing the second phase,” including everything related to the keys to the release of kidnapped persons and prisoners.

In its latest response, Hamas expressed its reservations about this item, as it wants these negotiations to focus only on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners who will be released from Israeli prisons for every living Israeli soldier or Israeli detainee in Gaza. And preventing Israel from raising the disarmament of Gaza and other issues during these negotiations.

Because of this reservation on the part of Hamas, the Americans are pressing to change one word - changing the word inclusion to another word, perhaps just - which means that the talk will only be about the keys to the stage and not about additional conditions. In this way, Washington is trying to tempt Hamas to return to the negotiating table.

Despite American pressure to conclude an exchange deal now, the chance of success of the change that the Americans want to achieve is weak, unless a dramatic shift occurs these days that revives the truce negotiations.