In a surprising turn of events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backtracked on a crucial concession in ceasefire negotiations with Gaza. According to a reliable Israeli source familiar with the talks, Netanyahu is now demanding that armed individuals be prohibited from returning to northern Gaza as part of any ceasefire agreement.
This abrupt change in stance by Israel could potentially disrupt progress in the negotiations and cast doubt on Netanyahu’s commitment to the proposed deal. Just last week, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope as talks resumed in Qatar and Hamas showed willingness to compromise on certain points. However, a recent statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office suggests that there are key principles that Israel is not willing to compromise on, including the objective of achieving all goals of the war in Gaza.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been ongoing for nine months, with Israel citing Hamas’ attack as the catalyst for the war. The toll of the war has been devastating, with thousands of lives lost and entire communities displaced. Israel has vowed to continue fighting until all hostages are released and Hamas is neutralized.
CNN has reached out to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office for further comment on this development. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving situation.
