ALBAWABA - Israeli commentators were surprised by Hamas' commitment to a prisoner swap and ceasefire in Gaza, leaving Tel Aviv uneasy. Military expert Amos Harel says Hamas' acceptance has put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration in a perilous position.
Netanyahu seems to be balancing between not rejecting an agreement to repatriate Israeli captives from Gaza and not angering his right-wing friends. Nahum Barnea, a famous Yedioth Ahronoth analyst, says Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar may be deceiving the Israeli government knowing it may not accept the idea.
Hamas' latest demand for American assurances and Netanyahu's prior words hinting at a military assault of Rafah have compounded matters. According to Amos Harel, Israeli political whispers claim that Egypt and the US may have secretly updated the plan, leaving Netanyahu's next action undetermined.
Netanyahu's prior allegations of being unfairly accused of undermining discussions are now being questioned, and he may reject the idea again, citing Israel's need to destroy Hamas and American duplicity. Harel said Netanyahu's main worry is coalition government stability and right-wing support loss.
While discussions are unlikely to succeed, observers believe Hamas' surprising favorable reaction may have strained relations between Israel and the US. All eyes are on how Netanyahu's key leaders, including as Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, would react to the changing dynamics and Netanyahu's apparent hesitation to accept the idea.
