JERUSALEM, Israel – The prospect of a negotiated deal to free the remaining Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas sank to a new low over the weekend.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar made new demands in his months-long standoff with the lives of the hostages on the line.
The fighting continues in Gaza, as it seems the drive for a ceasefire ran into another roadblock. The Washington Post and Israel’s Channel 12 report Hamas has introduced another obstacle to prevent a deal, demanding that Israel release 100 more terrorists serving life sentences than had been agreed upon.
Reportedly, these 100 would replace top Hamas and other terror commanders killed in Gaza. Israeli sources put a deal “at close to zero.”
According to The Times of Israel, one negotiator said, “The only way forward is to end the war – keep acting to get the public behind bringing about an end to the war.”
On Sunday, a lone terrorist, a Jordanian truck driver, murdered three Israeli guards at the Allenby (King Hussein) Crossing between Jordan and Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned what he called the “despicable” shooting, and pointed the blame at Iran.
“We are surrounded by a murderous ideology led by Iran’s axis of evil,” Netanyahu declared.
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