Ahead of renewed ceasefire talks in Cairo and Doha this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has issued a list of four non-negotiable demands for any potential deal with Hamas.
According to a report by Times of Israel, The key requirement is that "any deal will allow Israel to return to fighting until its war aims are met." This directly contradicts the purpose of a ceasefire, which is to halt hostilities.
Other non-negotiable demands include:
1. Prohibiting weapons smuggling to Hamas from the Gaza-Egypt border
2. Preventing the return of thousands of armed Hamas fighters to northern Gaza
3. Maximizing the number of live hostages returned from Hamas captivity
Netanyahu's office stated that his refusal to stop the Israeli military's ground operations in Rafah "is what brought Hamas back to the negotiating table." The statement also claimed the framework "agreed by Israel and welcomed by President Biden will enable Israel to return hostages without harming the other aims of the war."
Netanyahu's insistence on reserving the right to resume combat operations, even after a ceasefire is implemented, has drawn criticism. Analysts suggest his stance may be driven by political calculations to appease hardliners within his coalition and bolster his domestic standing.
The upcoming negotiations in Egypt and Qatar will be crucial in determining whether a lasting ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza. However, Netanyahu's non-negotiable demands threaten to derail the progress made so far in the talks, which involve various international mediators.