ALBAWABA - Benjamin Netanyahu, has increased the intensity of his demands in the midst of ongoing talks with Hamas over a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
Netanyahu has imposed additional requirements as chances for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange increase. Netanyahu has been widely condemned for his unwillingness to stop the Gaza bombings in order to protect his political future.
In the past, Netanyahu has insisted that Israel would continue to assault Gaza until goals like "the eradication of Hamas and the complete return of prisoners" are achieved.
Netanyahu has proposed further demands since Israel and Hamas' talks just resumed last week. The problem with Gaza's border with Egypt and the Rafah border crossing is one of the most important.
Netanyahu insists that Israeli soldiers maintain control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah Border Crossing and that Israel maintain its occupation of the "Philadelphia Corridor" along Gaza's border with Egypt.
Moreover, even in the case of a truce, Netanyahu is against the return of "Hamas members" to the northern part of Gaza. Furthermore, he argues that Israel's right to re-engage militarily in Gaza until all war goals are met must be guaranteed in any ceasefire and prisoner exchange arrangement.
There have been rumors that Netanyahu is making the prisoner swap procedure more difficult as a result of his demands.
According to a report from Israel's Walla news site, Netanyahu has made the requirements for a truce and prisoner swap arrangement more stringent.
"Netanyahu has made these stringent demands to leverage Hamas's weakened position and extract maximum concessions from the negotiations," an unidentified Israeli source told Walla. But there's a chance that going too far might blow up the negotiations."
