Israel may threaten to partially annex the Gaza Strip to increase pressure on the Palestinian militant group „Hamas“ during the ceasefire negotiations, Minister Zeev Elkin, who is also a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, said last night, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
In an interview with Israeli public television „Kan“ Elkin noted that „Hamas“ is delaying the negotiations.
„The most painful thing for our enemies is the loss of land“, he continued, indicating that there is a possibility of giving „Hamas“ an ultimatum in order to reach an agreement. In his words, such An ultimatum would be a powerful tool for exerting pressure.
Israel would make it clear that "the moment Hamas starts toying with us, it will lose land that it will never get back," Elkin said.
A few days ago, Israeli media reported that the government was considering whether to threaten to gradually annex parts of the Gaza Strip in order to increase pressure on Hamas.
Far-right ministers in Netanyahu's government recently expressed their displeasure over the resumption of larger aid deliveries to Gaza.
According to Israeli commentators, Netanyahu is seeking to appease his far-right coalition partners with these plans.
The indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are stalled, DPA notes.
The latest proposal at the negotiating table was for a 60-day truce. It envisaged „Hamas“ releasing 10 of the 20 hostages still alive in the Gaza Strip.
The „En12“ television channel and Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported that Israel had handed the mediators a response to „Hamas“s latest demands on Tuesday. Details of the content of the response were not disclosed, however.