Israel presses ahead with Gaza truce negotiations

Israel decided to continue negotiations for a truce with the Islamist group Hamas in Loopwhich according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could delay “to some extent” a ground offensive on Rafah, in the extreme south of the enclave Palestinian and where more than 1.4 million people live in overcrowded conditions.

Israel’s war cabinet decided last night to send a delegation to Qatar in the coming days to negotiate indirectly with Hamas a truce and a new exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli officials have been “cautiously optimistic” about the chances of reaching a new hostage agreement, according to Hebrew media, after the heads of the intelligence services of Israel, the United States and Egypt, as well as Qatari officials held a meeting yesterday in Paris where they defined the terms of a new agreement.

The document must now be presented to Hamas for consideration, which until last night said it had no knowledge of the new terms.

According to the media, the new draft contemplates a six-week truce and the release of some 40 hostages in exchange for the release of between 200 and 300 Palestinian prisoners.

Negotiations continue

After what Hamas declined in early February another draft agreement reached in Paris, Israeli sources point out that the dialogue has been resumed because the Islamist group renounced some of its “unacceptable” demands for Israel, such as the total cessation of hostilities and the departure of its troops from the Strip.

However, the Hamas leadership assures that it has not given up on those “fundamental” demands.

Netanyahu warns that truce will delay but not prevent an offensive against Rafah

In an interview with the American network CBS, the Israeli prime minister offered details about his plans for Rafah.

Specifically, Netanyahu acknowledged that the offensive on Rafah could be delayed if an agreement is reached for a ceasefire in the Strip.

“If we reach an agreement, (the Rafah offensive) will be delayed a little, but it will happen. If we don’t have an agreement, we will do it anyway. It has to be done. Because our goal is total victory, and total victory is within our reach. Not in a few months, but within a few weeks once we start the operation,” Netanyahu said.

The Israeli prime minister also referred to requests from the White House, which has made clear that it will not support a large-scale Rafah offensive and urged Israel to present a “credible plan” to protect civilians.

Specifically, Netanyahu said that this Sunday he planned to hold a meeting with his team to draw up a “double plan” for Rafah that includes the elimination of Hamas militants and the evacuation of civilians.

Although Netanyahu reiterated that these plans are progressing, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan stated this Sunday that the American president, Joe Biden, has not yet been informed of such plans.

Israel and the UN exchange accusations again

The commissioner of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, accused Israel this Sunday, without naming him, of leading to famine for the 300,000 Palestinians who continue to live in the north of the Gaza Strip, where “There has been no humanitarian aid since January 23.”

“This is a man-made disaster,” Lazzarini said in his X account, in a clear allusion to Israel, which blocks the entry of aid to the north of the Palestinian enclave.