“This is the last chance before we go into Rafah,” the official said, according to Channel 12 news.
It’s a case of “either a deal in the near future, or Rafah,” the source said.
If Hamas does want a humanitarian deal, Israel will not be the obstacle.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out ending the war until Hamas is destroyed as a military and governing force.
Israel also indicated a willingness to withdraw forces from a key corridor bisecting Gaza in two, Channel 12 said.
Israel and Egypt, it says, are coordinating on a sensor system along the so-called Philadelphi border corridor between Gaza and Egypt.
Finally, the report said, one reason for the still-delayed ground offensive in Rafah is concern that it will deepen international delegitimization of Israel.
Israel says it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and the hostages are released, and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza afterward.
Ahead of the talks, senior Hamas official Basem Naim told the Associated Press that “there is nothing new from our side,” when asked about the negotiations.
Israeli officials reportedly warned that this was the “last chance” for a truce agreement before Israel launched its long-planned assault. On Friday, talks between Israeli officials and a high-level Egyptian delegation intended to discuss Israel’s upcoming offensive in Rafah and efforts to reach a hostage deal with Hamas came to an end.
Speaking to Hebrew media, a senior Israeli official said that the discussions were “very good, focused, held in good spirits and progressed in all parameters.”. “.
The official stated to Ynet that “in the background, there are very serious intentions from Israel to move ahead in Rafah” and that the Egyptians appear prepared to exert pressure on Hamas to reach a settlement. “.
In an attempt to stall the Israel Defense Forces operation, the Israeli official claimed that Israel had warned Hamas that it would not consent to concessions on the hostage situation, especially from its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The official also mentioned the mobilization of reserve forces. According to Channel 12 news, the official stated, “This is the last chance before we go into Rafah.”.
According to the source, there is “either a deal in the near future, or Rafah.”. It is generally accepted that Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7 massacre, is hiding in the Rafah area’s Hamas tunnel network, using the hostages nearby as human shields.
The official said that although Israel will not consent to the release of only 20 hostages, as suggested by Hamas in recent indirect contacts, it is willing to accept the release of fewer than the 40 living hostages as previously suggested. As per the report, Israel maintains that it is holding 33 hostages who are considered “humanitarian” due to their gender, age, illness, or combination of these characteristics, and it is demanding their release.
Although it was emphasized that, as of right now, that is not the case, the Channel 12 report stated that this could be a significant sticking point if the mediation efforts with Hamas are successful.
The report contained no information regarding the length of the proposed accompanying truce, whether this would be the first phase of a larger deal for all the hostages, or Hamas’s insistence that Israel end the war completely before releasing any more hostages.
An unidentified Israeli official told Axios on Friday, “This is part of what the negotiations are going to focus on now.”. The length of the truce will be determined by how many hostages are freed. Israel will not stand in the way of Hamas’ desire for a humanitarian agreement. “.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, has stated time and time again that the war won’t end until Hamas is completely destroyed as a political and military entity.
According to the official, Israel is also prepared to make additional significant concessions, such as permitting the return of residents to northern Gaza—possibly without any safeguards against Hamas members taking their place. Additionally, according to Channel 12, Israel signaled its readiness to remove troops from a crucial corridor that divides Gaza in half.
The IDF has finished all of its preparations for a Rafah operation, according to the report, but the government is delaying organizing an offensive with the US government.
It did state, however, that multiple defense establishment sources firmly believe that the hostages’ “time is running out,” that they should be given “top priority,” and that the IDF may resume fighting whenever necessary to allow for the negotiation and execution of a hostage agreement.
According to Channel 12’s report, unidentified defense sources stated that Netanyahu ought to be exerting maximum effort to reach a settlement for the hostages, but he is afraid of resistance from his coalition’s far-right members, particularly Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir.
Furthermore, it stated that these defense sources believe that securing the Gaza-Egypt border at Rafah will be more important in preventing Hamas from smuggling in weapons and supplies so they can rearm rather than taking on the organization’s four battalions inside the city. According to it, Israel and Egypt are working together to install a sensor system along the Gaza-to-Egypt border, also known as the Philadelphi border corridor.
According to the report, there is a fear that the ground offensive in Rafah, which is still ongoing, will further undermine Israel’s credibility internationally.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the mission, an Egyptian official stated ahead of the talks that Abbas Kamel, Egypt’s top intelligence official, led the delegation and intended to discuss with Israel a “new vision” for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza.
The US is pushing for a hostage-truce agreement that would result in a long-term ceasefire, and there is increasing international pressure on Israel and Hamas to come to an agreement as the war rages on and the toll climbs.
However, due to accusations of deal-sabotage by both parties, negotiations have been on hold for several months.
Israel has rejected Hamas’ demands for both a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops, but Hamas has stated that it will not back down. Following the defeat of Hamas and the release of the hostages, Israel claims it will maintain a security presence in Gaza and will carry out military operations there indefinitely.
When questioned about the negotiations ahead of time by the Associated Press, senior Hamas official Basem Naim replied, “There is nothing new from our side.”.
