Today, Friday, the Israeli Channel 12 channel reported, citing senior officials in the Ministry of Defense, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added principles that go beyond agreements with mediators, and that this may hinder the ability to reach an exchange and ceasefire agreement in Gaza, at a time when families of prisoners are demonstrating, demanding the conclusion of a deal.

The channel explained that the principles added by Netanyahu relate to the return of those he describes as “militants” to the northern Gaza Strip, the management of the Philadelphia axis, and the possibility of returning to war.

It quoted an Israeli official as saying that if the deal was not completed at what he described as “this critical time,” it might not be completed at all, as he put it.

Meanwhile, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that the Israeli delegation headed by Shin Bet head Ronen Bar returned from Cairo this afternoon after a round of negotiations.

Insistence on war

Following his meeting with the negotiating delegation returning yesterday from Doha, Netanyahu pledged to continue the war until what he described as victory was achieved, even if it took more time.

In return, he affirmed his commitment to the plan to release detained prisoners, and Netanyahu accused the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) of adhering to demands that conflict with the proposal.

The Prime Minister stressed that every deal must allow Israel to return to fighting, until all the goals of the war are achieved.

Protest of the prisoners' families

As the negotiations continued, the families of the Israeli prisoners continued their march from Tel Aviv to West Jerusalem for the third day, to convey to Netanyahu that this time they would not allow the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas to be torpedoed.

Over the course of months, and in the face of Israeli intransigence with American cover, mediation efforts did not succeed in reaching an agreement, and were hampered by Netanyahu’s refusal to respond to Hamas’ demands to stop the war completely.

Indirect negotiations have resumed with visits made by Israeli delegations - in recent days - to Doha and Cairo to complete discussions on a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

Source: Al Jazeera