Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned home on Friday following several days of negotiations in Washington with U.S. officials, including a meeting with President Trump, but left without securing a cease-fire agreement with Hamas in Gaza.
The future of the conflict in the Gaza Strip remains uncertain as mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar continue to work through disagreements concerning the duration of a truce, the scope of any Israeli withdrawal from occupied Gaza areas, and the management of humanitarian aid during a cease-fire.
Ahead of his departure, Netanyahu issued a statement outlining his support for a two-month cease-fire that would include the release of half of the approximately 50 hostages still held by Hamas, encompassing both living captives and the remains of deceased individuals. However, the statement underscored persistent challenges to reaching a final deal.
Netanyahu did not commit to the cease-fire evolving into a permanent peace arrangement, a long-standing demand of Hamas. He emphasized that any negotiations toward ending the war must be conditional on Hamas relinquishing its weapons.
He stressed that peace talks require meeting "minimal conditions" including the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the dismantling of Hamas's governing and military structures, describing these as fundamental prerequisites.
Hamas officials promptly rejected these conditions, with senior representative Basem Naim stating that disarmament would "never" be part of any negotiation, casting doubt on the prospects for immediate progress.
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