Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to postpone Gaza ceasefire talks for at least three more months, delaying them until after the U.S. presidential election.
Netanyahu, who praised Trump as "the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House" in 2020, is believed to be aiming to capitalize on a potential Trump victory to gain more favorable terms. (Related: Netanyahu demands U.S. expedite aid to Israel, says Americans protesting Israel 'stand with evil.')
Despite recent optimism from the Biden administration, with Secretary Blinken suggesting a ceasefire agreement is imminent, Politico's report suggests Netanyahu may be using the election timing to his advantage.
According to the report, Netanyahu perceives that a Trump administration would be more supportive of Israel and tougher on Iran and its allies, such as Hezbollah.
A senior diplomat from the region indicated that Netanyahu's strategy may involve waiting until after the November election.
This assessment aligns with a separate report from Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which cites an intelligence assessment suggesting the Doha talks might stall until after the election due to Netanyahu's expectation of better conditions under Trump.
The recent announcement of Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race alters the dynamics of Netanyahu's upcoming meeting with Biden at the White House.
Israeli media reports that Netanyahu plans to express gratitude to Biden for his support during the war and throughout his career. He also intends to reaffirm Israel's unwavering commitment as America's most crucial ally in the Middle East, regardless of the next U.S. president.
Previously, Netanyahu's government criticized Biden's policies, particularly after the U.S. temporarily withheld bomb shipments to Israel. However, with a possible Trump administration on the horizon, such criticisms are expected to diminish.
Meanwhile, Israeli military operations in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis have intensified, with heavy airstrikes reported amid a worsening humanitarian crisis as civilians continue to flee the area.
Hamas senior official: Netanyahu shows reluctance to pursue ceasefire in speech to U.S. Congress
Hamas senior official Sami Abu Zuhri claimed on Wednesday, July 24, that Netanyahu's speech to the U.S. Congress reveals his reluctance to pursue a ceasefire.
Netanyahu's address, notable for being his fourth appearance before a joint session of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, centered on the need for a regional security alliance to counter Iran's influence.
Abu Zuhri condemned Netanyahu's speech as filled with falsehoods, arguing that it failed to obscure Israel's military setbacks and ongoing war crimes against Gaza. He accused Netanyahu of trying to deflect attention from the "genocide" committed by Israeli forces and labeled any potential alliance with Israel as a betrayal of Palestinian martyrs' blood.
In his speech, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has no plans to resettle Gaza. He proposed that after the conflict with Hamas militants, Gaza should be governed by Palestinians who do not seek Israel's destruction.
In response, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, underscored that Palestinians alone have the right to determine their leadership and reiterated that the only path to security and stability is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The conflict, which erupted on October 7, began when Hamas fighters launched a massive assault on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 captives, according to Israeli sources.
As of now, Hamas and other militants are still holding approximately 120 hostages, with Israel believing that around a third of them may be dead.
In retaliation, Israel's military offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has also intensified, with widespread destruction and severe shortages of essential supplies.
Follow IsraelCollapse.com for more news about the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
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