No significant progress in Gaza peace talks due to Israel’s tough stance

Tel Aviv: The ongoing mediation talks between Israel and Hamas in Doha have not made much progress. Despite America’s efforts, Israel is adamant on its terms for the ceasefire agreement. America is insisting on immediate implementation of the ceasefire. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the Middle East and Israel on Thursday and Friday to advance talks between the two sides. Israeli Defense Ministry sources told IANS that Israel will stick to its terms. According to sources, Hamas wants the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for each Israeli female hostage, while Israel said it could release a maximum of five prisoners for one female hostage. Israel is also adamant that it will not release Palestinians serving prison terms for serious crimes, including murder. According to sources, Israel has told mediators, including Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Major General Abbas Kamel, that it is on the verge of winning this war, with only four battalions of Hamas left. Israel has said that it has already agreed to Hamas’ demands and that talks should now proceed on Israel’s terms. Israel has agreed to deliver more aid to Gaza as well as resettle 2,000 displaced Palestinian families. Mossad chief David Barnia, who was leading the Israeli delegation to peace talks, told CIA chief William Burns that Israel would agree to a temporary six-week ceasefire on its own terms. According to sources, Israel is also adamant that the Israeli hostages be released in two batches, while Hamas is insisting on three. Hamas had said that it would release women, elderly and sick hostages in the first batch, and all the female Israeli soldiers in custody in the second batch. According to sources, the militant organization told mediators that all detained Israeli male soldiers would be released in the third batch. However, Israel wants all civilian men and soldiers to be released in the second batch.