Netanyahu sets up roadblocks to ceasefire deal with new demands

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delaying a ceasefire agreement with Hamas by introducing new demands, reported the Times of Israel.

According to a senior Israeli official involved in the ceasefire negotiations, Netanyahu is now insisting on establishing an enforcement mechanism to prevent armed Hamas operatives from returning to northern Gaza.

“The prime minister’s insistence on building a mechanism to prevent the movement of armed operatives will stall the talks for weeks, and there may not be anyone to bring home,” said the official.

“This demand was not part of the Israeli proposal from May 27. It’s unclear why Netanyahu is raising this demand now. The security services know how to handle the return of armed terrorists to northern Gaza,” the official added.

The source, speaking to Israeli Channel 12, suggested that Netanyahu might be trying to delay the deal because his coalition is likely to collapse if it goes through.