Israel and Hamas play blame game over peace talk stalemate

Israel and Hamas publicly expressed their frustration on April 13th, blaming each other for allegedly undermining negotiations for a truce and hostage release deal. Nonetheless peace talks persist, Arab News and agencies reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of being the “only obstacle” to a deal that would free Israeli hostages. “The cabinet and the security forces are united in their opposition to these unfounded demands,” he said, adding that Hamas “has refused any deal and any compromise proposal.”
On April 13th, Hamas announced that it responded to the latest ceasefire proposal, standing firm on its demands for a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, which Israel has repeatedly opposed.
Israel’s Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations Mossad released a statement on April 14th via Netanyahu’s office announcing Hamas’s rejection of the proposal — a fact that they alleged “proves” that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar “does not want a humanitarian deal and the return of the hostages.”
READ: White House awaiting Hamas response to ceasefire proposal
Mossad added that Sinwar was “continuing to exploit the tension with Iran” and aiming for “a general escalation in the region.”
The statement came just hours before Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, the vast majority of which Israel claimed to have intercepted.
Netanyahu has remained steadfast in his determination to launch another ground invasion of Rafah despite the withdrawal of forces on April 7th. Pressure within Israel has mounted as civilians protest Netanyahu’s idleness in attempting to retrieve hostages coupled with the increasing Iranian conflict.
Mossad said Israel would “continue to work to achieve the objectives of the war against Hamas with all its might, and will turn every stone to bring back the hostages from Gaza.”
Despite the apparent gulf between the two sides, the talks — mediated by Egypt, the United States and Qatar — have continued in Cairo. On April 8th, Egyptian media outlet Al-Qahera News reported that each side was making “significant progress.”
READ: France presents new Gaza ceasefire draft to UN
Potential agreements would halt fighting for six weeks and see the exchange of about 40 hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, as well as more aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip.
A Hamas source told AFP that later stages of the ceasefire would allow for the release of all hostages, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the lifting of the siege and reconstruction of the territory.
But every attempt to negotiate so far has failed.
November 26th saw the beginning of a four-day pause to the fighting, allowing for the release of around 50 Israeli hostages. This contrasts with a statement made by Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri on January 21st, who said that as long as Israel continues to terrorize Gaza, “there is no chance for the return of the captives.”
“The negotiations are not at a standstill,” said Hasni Abidi of CERMAM, a Geneva-based think tank specializing in the Mediterranean and the Arab world, but mediators have to go back to the drawing board.
Arab News and agencies