Yossi Schwartz ISL (RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine), 15.01.2025
According to “Israel Today”:
“Sky News in Arabic reported from its sources that Israel adhered to the principle of vetoing the names of Palestinian fighters after the submission of the list by Hamas. Sources told Sky News that the Israeli government has set new conditions that could blow up the negotiations, including that the Zionist army remain at a depth of 700 meters inside the city of Rafah. An Israeli diplomatic source denied the allegations, saying: “Hamas is making a false claim that Israel has added new conditions in the negotiations to avoid the deal.”
Arab sources told the Wall Street Journal that Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, agreed in principle to the terms of the agreement overnight. However, the Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas’s overnight delay raised concerns that efforts could collapse like previous rounds.
Another source said that Hamas has remained silent, and it is not clear why. On the other hand, a Hamas source denied this and said, “Progress in the negotiations is still ongoing. However, there are specific but critical issues that are currently under discussion that need to be agreed upon.”
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported this morning (Wednesday) that the signing of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release of the hostages has been delayed again and has not yet taken place due to the failure to provide maps clarifying the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza after the ceasefire goes into effect.
Sources told the newspaper that Hamas had informed the mediators of its verbal consent but had not yet signed the necessary documents because Israel could evade its commitments to withdraw. However, the sources noted that “it is unlikely that this technical problem will interfere with the signing of an agreement that could occur at any moment – and it is likely that there will be an agreement within 48 hours at the latest.”
A source involved in the negotiations also told the Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that Hamas submitted its “consent” to the draft agreement to the mediators on the night between Monday and Tuesday, but also asked the mediators for clear maps detailing the areas from which the IDF would withdraw and timetables for any withdrawal.
A senior member of the Palestinian resistance told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that the ceasefire agreement had already been reached. In fact, however, the announcement of this is delayed until an agreement is reached on the mechanisms for implementing the commitments.
The source said that “Hamas fears that Israel will avoid the gradual withdrawal if the mediators do not have clear maps that can be turned to in the event of an Israeli violation.”
Israel out of Gaza now!
For Palestine, red and free from the river to the sea!