The Israeli government has been accused of attempting to sabotage a US-backed ceasefire proposal by introducing new demands despite previously accepting the plan after nine months of conflict.
Israeli media reported that Mossad chief David Barnea provided mediators with a list of new reservations, which are expected to delay negotiations. This move has drawn criticism towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from opposition parties, media, and families of Israeli hostages, who accuse him of undermining efforts to reach a ceasefire.
The involvement of key ministers like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who are opposed to a ceasefire and are crucial for Netanyahu's ruling coalition, adds to the complexity. Ben-Gvir threatened to quit the coalition, and Smotrich expressed his opposition to the proposed deal.
Netanyahu's statement emphasized the importance of maximizing the number of live hostages returned while demanding conditions that could hinder negotiations, such as the ability to resume offensive operations and preventing arms smuggling from Egypt.
The situation is further complicated by the potential for de-escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, contingent on a Gaza ceasefire. U.S. and Israeli officials, including CIA director Bill Burns, are in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire deal and security arrangements at the Egypt-Gaza border.
