The Israeli government has given Hamas a one-week deadline to agree to the ceasefire plan on the table, otherwise they will commence military operation in Rafah, according to Egyptian officials cited by the Wall Street Journal on Friday, as the Palestinian organization delays its response, hoping to achieve better terms to secure its survival.
According to the officials, Egypt worked with Israel on a revised ceasefire proposal presented to Hamas last weekend. The political leadership of Hamas was expected to consult with its military wing in Gaza and come back with its positions. However, Yahya Sinwar, the military leader of the organization in Gaza, who is believed to be hiding in a tunnel in the enclave and making the final decisions, has not responded, the officials said.
“Sinwar is expected to reject any agreement that does not include a credible path to ending the war,” the officials added to the WSJ.
Arab mediators also stated that Sinwar “believes he has already won the war, whether he survives or not, by bringing the plight of the Palestinians to the world’s attention and putting the conflict in the Gaza Strip at the forefront of global affairs.”
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At the same time, according to an Israeli official cited by the Times of Israel, the Israeli cabinet expects Hamas to officially announce the rejection of the proposal.
“The Israeli leadership estimates that Hamas will officially reject the latest offer for the hostages and the ceasefire,” the official said, adding that the war cabinet is already discussing such a scenario, in addition to a possible commencement of the looming invasion of the border city of Rafah.
