Ongoing Negotiations in Cairo; Netanyahu: Israel Will Not Agree to Any Deal Leading to End of War Against Hamas

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated on Sunday, May 5, coinciding with the second day of negotiations among Hamas officials, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States in Cairo, that Israel opposes any agreement leading to the end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Netanyahu said, "We are not prepared to accept conditions in which Hamas brigades come out of their shelters, regain control of Gaza, rebuild their military infrastructure, and resume the threat to Israeli citizens..." The Israeli Prime Minister reiterated his position from recent months, stating that Israel "will continue the war until all its objectives are achieved." He noted that Israel is willing to accept an agreement, and it is Hamas that is insisting on its positions. Meanwhile, on Saturday, thousands of Israelis protested, calling for Netanyahu to agree to a deal that would lead to the release of hostages. Senior officials from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, along with Hamas officials, are present in the Cairo negotiations, but Netanyahu has decided not to send any delegation to Egypt for now. As Hamas insists on linking any agreement to the end of the war, a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the ongoing talks in Cairo have not yet resulted in a visible agreement. According to this Palestinian official, the Hamas delegation entered Cairo determined to reach an agreement "but not at any cost." He, wishing to remain anonymous, stated, "The agreement must lead to the end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and Israel is still not committed to doing so." Another Palestinian official told Reuters that the negotiations have faced challenges because Israel is not committed to a comprehensive ceasefire. He stated that the Hamas delegation has not yet left Cairo, hoping that the pressure from mediators will lead to a change in Israel's position. Egyptian sources reported that William Burns, the head of the CIA, who was also present in previous negotiations, arrived in Cairo on Friday. Some reports indicate that Israel may agree to a temporary ceasefire of a few weeks, under which 20 to 33 Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Concurrently with the Cairo negotiations, Israeli attacks on Hamas positions in Gaza continue, with Reuters citing Gaza health officials reporting casualties among several Palestinian residents. Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 6, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the hostage-taking of over 250 others, Israel launched its offensive on Gaza with the aim of destroying this Iran-backed Islamist group and retrieving the hostages. During negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt last fall, over 100 kidnapped hostages were released. There are still 133 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and Israel believes that at least 20 of them have lost their lives. Since the October 6 terrorist attack, Hamas officials have repeatedly emphasized that they will carry out such attacks again if capable. Hamas claims that more than 34,000 Palestinian residents of Gaza have been killed so far due to the Israeli offensive, with about 75,000 others injured, without specifying the number of its own members killed. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify or confirm the figures provided by Hamas. Protesters in Tel Aviv demanded early elections and the release of hostages. Arab media reported that Hamas will soon announce its agreement to Egypt's proposed plan. Netanyahu unveiled the "Gaza without Hamas" plan: autonomy and becoming a new pole for attracting investment over the next decade. A warning was issued about a potential Israeli attack on Rafah; the World Health Organization stated that this attack could lead to a bloodbath. The head of the CIA entered Cairo to advance ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza war. There was a confrontation over humanitarian aid shipments sent from Jordan; Hamas intercepted and stole the shipment midway. Palestinian Authority security forces killed a member of "Islamic Jihad" in the West Bank. The United Nations stated that the reconstruction of homes in Gaza could take 80 years. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that they do not support Israeli operations in Rafah that do not protect civilians.