Israel-Hamas war: Chances of hostage-truce deal 'close to zero', US not to present bridging proposal - Report

Chances of Israel and Hamas reaching a phased hostage-ceasefire deal were "close to zero", a reportin Times of Israel has claimed. There is "broad pessimism" among the Israeli negotiators regarding the deal, with the US also unlikely to present a new bridging proposal.

Citing Channel 12, the report claimed that the Israeli side was confident of striking a deal until recently before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put his foot down and firmly stated that he would not compromise on maintaining military control in thePhiladelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border.

“It appears that the current proposal will not come to fruition at this time. There is no prospect of a phased deal," a source familiar with the negotiations was quoted as saying.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

“The only way forward is to end the war.Keep acting to get the public behind bringing about an end to the war.”

An Axios report stated that US President Joe Biden wanted to present a new proposal but his aides said it would lead to nowhere until Netanyahu changes his policy.

Watch |Israel-Hamas War: Protests in Israel after Hostages' Killing

What did Netanyahu say?

After six Israeli hostages were found dead in the Gaza tunnel, Netanyahu sought forgiveness from the families but made it clear he would not alter his position on the deal.

"The achievement of the war's objectives goes through the Philadelphi Corridor... Control of the Philadelphi axis guarantees that the hostages will not be smuggled out of Gaza," he said during a press conference.

The Israeli PM claims that leaving the Philadelphi Corridor would enable Hamas to spirit the hostages to Iran.

Netanyahu wants a forever war: Lapid

After his defiant position,Israeli Opposition leader Yair Lapid claimed that Netanyahu wanted a "forever war" that kept him in power.

“What Netanyahu is saying, what his cabinet is telling us, is that we are in a new version of Lebanon. It took us 18 years to leave Lebanon [and] they are offering us the same thing: years of war, years of economic crisis, years of destruction and fear and violence. This is what the government is offering us. A war that will go on and on. A forever war that has and will never have an end date,” Lapid declared.

Lapid said the Netanyahu administration preferred war as they did not want to lose their power and that they did not know how to get the economy 'back on track'.

“We have big tasks ahead of us. Establish a regional coalition with the Saudis and the Americans against the Iranian threat. Get the economy back on track before it crashes. To rebuild the army in the face of the threats we face,” he added.

Prior to Lapid, State Comptroller and Ombudsman of Israel claimed that Netanyahu's office as well as military leaders were impedinginquiries into the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7 last year.

(With inputs from agencies)