Israel PM cancels peace talks after ceasefire vote

• Published date: 28 March 2024
• Publication title: Daily Post, The (Rotorua, New Zealand)

Yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said he decided to recall the delegation to Qatar because of Hamas’s unbending negotiating position. Netanyahu said the terror group had rejected America’s “compromise” proposal that would have linked any ceasefire to the release of Israeli hostages. Instead, Hamas had insisted on “extreme demands”, including an immediate end to hostilities

“Hamas is not interested in continuing negotiations and reaching the deal,” Netanyahu said, adding that it was “an unfortunate testimony to the damaging nature of the UN Security Council’s decision”.

The Israeli leader was referring to the resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza that was passed on Tuesday after the US, Israel’s key ally, abstained rather than use its veto.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said talks would still continue. An unnamed Israeli official told the Haaretz newspaper “part of” the delegation will stay in Doha to continue the talks, insisting the deal “has not collapsed”.

Families of some of the hostages were angered by the move and the Government’s apparent refusal to prioritise the rescue of their loved ones. Several relatives who were invited to a parliament hearing yesterday started shouting “disgrace” on hearing that the Knesset will not cancel its recess, due to start next weekend.

In the face of Hamas’ demands for a more permanent ceasefire, Netanyahu has vowed to resume Israel’s offensive after any hostage release and keep fighting until the militant group is destroyed. But he has provided few details about what would follow any such victory and has largely rejected a postwar vision outlined by the US.

That approach has brought him into increasingly open conflict with President Joe Biden’s administration, which has expressed mounting concern over civilian casualties — though it has continued to supply Israel with crucial military aid and back Israel’s aim of destroying Hamas.

The passage of Tuesday’s UN Security Council resolution further deepened the divisions. The resolution called for the release of all hostages held in Gaza but did not condition the ceasefire on it. The Biden administration, which vetoed previous UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire, abstained in Tuesday’s vote, allowing it to pass.

In response, Netanyahu cancelled a planned visit by Israeli officials to...