At a news conference today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed the idea of a negotiated settlement with Hamas, saying Israel was looking at an “extended operation” against the Gaza Strip.
Israel made much publicly of withdrawing their negotiators from Cairo yesterday, though Arab media are reporting that another delegation has already arrived today for continuing negotiations on both a fresh ceasefire and an eventual peace deal.
The ceasefire seems possible, though Israel’s cabinet is said to be pretty strongly against any peace deal on any terms, and continues to push for more escalations without any eye toward settling the conflict at all.
Still, one must remember that Israel and Hamas, in public comments, both tend toward bluster even when peace talks are advancing, so the talk of a protracted war from this point could just as easily be a bargaining tactic as an accurate assessment of the situation as it stands.
This is complete and utter farce. Israel has no interest in a truce or anything that might even come close to a peaceful solution with the Palestinians. This is political cover for those who want the Palestinians gone…especially the American politicians who desire the endless $$$$ from the Israelis who own them and are afraid to blow the illusion that they are interested in a 2-state solution. They aren't.
If Israel kills the "top 3 Hamas Commanders" how can there be negotiations?
Israel and Hamas why this use of a "nation" and a Party? It is the intransigent Likud and its extremist parties that pretend to negotiate a deal with Hamas, demonised as terrorists and apt to be killed, and/or their families, any time.