"Israeli" opposition leader accuses Netanyahu of evading ceasefire negotiations

"Israeli" opposition leader Yair Golan accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of evading negotiations for the second phase of a ceasefire agreement concerning Gaza.

Golan warned that failing to secure peace could result in a “political disaster” for Netanyahu.

"Israel had signed an agreement that was supposed to begin negotiations for the second phase on day 16 of the first phase. However, Israel has avoided these negotiations," Golan told "Israeli" daily Maariv.

He highlighted the involvement of Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, saying, "Let’s see how we can get the cart out of the mud," referring to efforts by the US Middle East envoy to facilitate discussions.

Golan noted that while Witkoff proposed a potential outline for negotiations, it was anticipated that Hamas would reject it. He stressed the importance of reaching a long-term ceasefire, stating, "Those who want to release the hostages need to understand a simple thing – we need to reach a long-term ceasefire and withdraw from most of Gaza." He further criticized Netanyahu, claiming, "Netanyahu wants the war to continue forever."

According to Golan, Netanyahu’s strategy appears to maintain a state of emergency among "Israeli" citizens, asserting that "Netanyahu is constantly looking for ways to keep all Israeli citizens under extraordinary pressure," prioritizing his political needs over humanitarian concerns.

He accused Netanyahu of disregarding the lives of soldiers and captives, claiming, "It simply doesn’t matter to him because his personal and political needs take precedence over everything else."

The ceasefire agreement's initial six-week phase, which began on January 19, officially concluded at midnight on Saturday. However, "Israel" has yet to agree to advance to the second phase of the deal, which aims to end the conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu's focus has reportedly been on extending the exchange phase to facilitate the release of "Israeli" captives without offering concessions or fulfilling the military and humanitarian obligations stipulated in the agreement.

Hamas has rejected these terms, insisting that "Israel" must adhere to the ceasefire conditions and commence negotiations for the second phase, which would require a complete withdrawal from Gaza and a cessation of hostilities.

The ceasefire has brought a temporary halt to what has been described as a genocidal war against Gaza, resulting in over 48,380 casualties, predominantly women and children, and leaving the region devastated.