Hamas requests 12-week ceasefire, Israel hesitant – CNN sources

(CNN) — 3 sources familiar with the talks related to the Gaza ceasefire told the network CNNOn Thursday, the Hamas movement asked Israel to agree in advance to stop fighting for a period of 12 weeks instead of 6 weeks, which created a major obstacle in the negotiations.

Israeli officials are strongly opposed to agreeing to this request, as they believe it would be no different than agreeing to end the war.

A senior US administration official said that Israel has made it clear that it wants to retain the right to dismantle the four remaining Hamas militias in Rafah and also that it needs “flexibility to keep to continue the war to do so. “

He said that Israel cannot do this if the first 6-week ceasefire moves to the second phase, where “sustainable calm” is supposed to be restored in Gaza, according to Hamas’ proposal.

The sources said that Hamas agreed to engage in talks during the first six weeks of the ceasefire, which requires the two parties to first reach terms before the second phase of the peace, which will last 6 more weeks, until. The sources described Hamas’ new demand as “a clear decline.”

Israeli officials privately admit that a months-long ceasefire would make it difficult to restart the war and return Israeli forces to Gaza, effectively ending the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is loathe to make such a clear commitment in advance, as many right-wing ministers have threatened to bring down his government if the war ends without launching a major ground attack. To dismantle Rafah and Hamas..

An Israeli source familiar with the talks said that Israel is taking seriously the promise to stop fighting in advance for 12 weeks before any of the guards are released.

The sources said it will be necessary to draft the agreement on how to move the first phase to the second phase to ensure Israel’s agreement.

Hamas’ request appears to have been confirmed in a document obtained by the network CNNwhich states the following:

“All measures in this first phase, including temporary cessation of military operations, relief, accommodation, withdrawal of forces, etc., will continue in the second phase until a permanent calm is declared. ““.

Senior administration official Joe Biden said, “The change in Hamas’ position may be due to the lack of agreement between the negotiators and the final decision-maker of the movement, Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to be working underground in Gaza. “.