Hamas accuses Netanyahu of “dragging and circumventing” the ceasefire agreement with “new demands”

The Islamist group Hamas has accused the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuof “delaying and avoiding reaching an agreement” on a ceasefire following the latest demands presented by the Israeli delegation in Rome, where the mediators are located.

The Islamist group said Israel had set “new conditions and demands” that represent a step back from the initial proposal, which was presented in late May by the United States and later backed by the UN Security Council.

“Examining displaced persons upon their return” and controlling the Rafah crossing

On Sunday, an Egyptian security source said that the Israeli delegation, led by Mossad foreign intelligence chief David Barnea, included among its amendments “to examine displaced persons upon their return to northern Gaza when the ceasefire begins.”

According to this source, Israel refuses to abandon the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing, something that the mediators – the United States, Qatar and, especially, Egypt – reject.

Pressure on Israel

The Rome meeting comes at a time of pressure on Israel from its main ally, Washington, after US Vice President and future Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said last Thursday after meeting with Netanyahu that it was time to end the attacks on Gaza with a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of hostages.

Of the 251 people Hamas captured in its October 7 attack, 111 remain captive, at least 39 of them dead according to Israel – more than 70 according to Hamas – while four others have been held hostage for years, two of them dead.

Since October 7, Israel and Hamas have only managed to reach a one-week truce agreement in late November, which allowed the release of 105 captives in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.