Netanyahu Confirms Israel’s Attendance as Hamas Insists on Marwan Barghouti’s Release
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, are set to resume on August 15 in Doha. These talks, aimed at reaching a ceasefire and resolving the ongoing hostage crisis, are under significant international pressure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that an Israeli delegation will attend, stating that they would travel to finalize “the details for implementing the framework agreement.”
The confirmation followed a joint statement by U.S. President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, urging both Israel and Hamas to resume discussions immediately. The leaders emphasized the urgency, stating, “It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families.”
Hamas has not yet formally responded to the announcement, but sources close to the organization have indicated a readiness to participate, albeit with a significant new demand: the release of Marwan Barghouti, a key Palestinian leader imprisoned in Israel, as part of the first phase of any deal. This demand adds a complex dimension to the negotiations, as Barghouti’s release is a contentious issue within Israel.
The talks come at a time of heightened tension and deep mistrust between the two sides. A Hamas spokesman in Lebanon voiced skepticism about Netanyahu’s intentions, stating, “We do not trust Netanyahu or the US administration. We trust the resistance, our people, and the support fronts.” Despite this mistrust, Hamas has signaled a willingness to continue the negotiations, emphasizing their readiness to resume resistance if no agreement is reached.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s government faces mounting domestic pressure to resolve the hostage crisis. Demonstrations across Israel have seen thousands demanding action, accusing the Prime Minister of endangering national security by prolonging the conflict. The internal debate over whether to prioritize the return of hostages or continue military operations against Hamas has intensified, reflecting broader tensions within Israeli society.
Not until Hamas is dead and gone, and no more terrorists released! This must
stop, and releasing terrorists is not a workable solution! Neither is giving in to the whining of the world!
Enough already. Time and again, the Muslim method of “negotiation” is to add more and more demands all the time, without ever agreeing to what the other side wants. Israel has been through this for decades, and yet we’re forced to do so again. If we don’t, the world which wants our destruction will assure it, so we keep doing this farce, The Muslims always are in it for the long game, as to them, it’s a war of attrition. Well, Israel cannot give in either, so this farce will just keep playing out until the admin changes to one that is pro-Israel, and hopefully that will be soon. Some will say that Trump also followed this same pattern, but I think there was a different mind-set. At least he didn’t put the same amount of pressure on Israel but also put more pressure on the Muslims.