Hebrew media: Collapse of negotiations was an Israeli decision

OCCUPIED PALESTINE, Aug. 07 (YPA) – Israeli Channel 12 reported Thursday that officials from countries mediating the ceasefire talks between “Israel” and Hamas have presented a different account from that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government regarding the alleged failure of negotiations with Hamas.

According to the report, mediators say the two sides were very close to reaching an agreement, and that the gaps remaining were not substantial enough to justify a breakdown in talks. Contrary to claims by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the officials stated that Hamas did not present any impossible demands.

“The momentum was very positive until it suddenly stopped twelve days ago on a Friday,” one official told the channel.  “The negotiations didn’t collapse over core disagreements, but because of a decision by “Israel” to halt the talks.”

According to the Channel, the mediators were surprised by Israel’s withdrawal from the negotiations and its failure to return to the table, noting that the disagreements, including withdrawal maps and humanitarian issues, were solvable.

As of Thursday, there has been no official response from the Netanyahu government to the mediators’ attempts to restart negotiations.

@E.Y.M