Netanyahu Tells Biden: Hostage Exchange Sought, However Hamas’s Demands Are Unacceptable

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed to US President Joe Biden in their conversation on Sunday that, contrary to what has been reported and interpreted by the Israeli media, he is genuinely interested in negotiating a deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Nevertheless, Netanyahu emphasized that any agreement must be feasible for cabinet approval, according to American and Israeli officials who are familiar with the details of their discussion.

The Biden Administration conveyed one of its goals that Israel take steps to conduct serious negotiations to try and reach a deal.

In an effort to facilitate a breakthrough in the negotiations, Netanyahu sent a delegation on Tuesday headed by the Mossad chief to Cairo for discussions with the CIA director, the Prime Minister of Qatar, and the head of Egyptian intelligence.

Senior American and Israeli officials reportedly said that Netanyahu informed Biden that Hamas’s stance significantly different from the “generous terms” he claimed were discussed in Paris.

Netanyahu highlighted to Biden that, in contrast to the previous agreement where Israel consented to a day of ceasefire for every ten hostages released, Israel is now willing to offer a day of ceasefire to Hamas for each hostage released.

Netanyahu stressed to Biden that Israel is prepared to release three Palestinian prisoners in exchange for each hostage, similar to the terms of the previous agreement. However, he clarified that Israel would not meet Hamas’s demands to release thousands of prisoners. In response, a senior American official speaking on conditions on anonymity mentioned that Biden noted negotiations are underway and Israel might have to consider releasing more prisoners than it did in the last deal.

The American official highlighted that the “key” issue of exchanging Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages continues to be a significant sticking point in the discussions.

“During the conversation, Biden and Netanyahu did not discuss specific positions on the key issue of prisoners but rather ways to move forward on this issue. They agreed that Hamas’s demands on the issue are a ‘non-starter,'” stated the American official.

Latest Worthy News