The Israeli PM had reportedly previously endorsed a US plan to end the fighting
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a ceasefire proposal that would end the war in Gaza, according to a report from Al Jazeera on Tuesday. This comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Netanyahu on Monday to discuss de-escalation efforts and a ceasefire agreement, including the release of hostages. Blinken had previously claimed that Netanyahu had accepted the US proposal.
The White House had reported significant progress in talks involving officials from Israel, Qatar, the US, and Egypt in Doha last week. Hamas skipped these negotiations, citing the absence of a clear plan.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu reportedly informed families of hostages that a ceasefire deal may not be reached and that the Israeli military will retain control of the Gazan-Egyptian border, a key demand of Hamas. According to the Hostages Families Forum, Netanyahu stated that Israel “will under no circumstances leave the Philadelphia axis and the Netzer Corridor” and that he was “not sure” if a deal could be reached. The forum accused Netanyahu of rejecting any hostage deal.
The Philadelphia Corridor runs along the Gaza-Egypt border, while the Netzarim Corridor divides the Gaza Strip into a northern and southern zone.
Netanyahu has reportedly insisted on maintaining IDF troops along the Philadelphia Corridor, claiming “this is the one thing that causes Hamas to come down from its unreasonable demands.”
Hamas on Sunday rejected the latest US ceasefire and hostage proposal for Gaza, stating it “aligns with” Netanyahu’s demands.
The militant group objected to the proposal’s lack of a permanent ceasefire or comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas also claimed that Netanyahu had reversed previous concessions and imposed new conditions for prisoner exchanges.
Hostilities between Israel and Hamas erupted after Hamas launched a surprise incursion into southern Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,100 people and the capture of 200 hostages. The Israeli military’s response has reportedly led to over 40,000 Palestinian casualties and over 92,000 injuries, according to Palestinian health officials.