Just how ridiculously unrealistic did Hamas get in its ‘counterproposal,’ praised by Qatar as “generally positive” and treated as serious by the US? Absurd enough that the Israelis immediately rejected it, and today are emphasizing that there is “no way” that it even serves as a framework for further negotiations.
As noted yesterday, Hamas wants more than 1500 Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for the 136 hostages it still holds, including hundreds convicted of terrorism. That changes the ratio from its previous 1:3 to something more like 1:11. But Hamas also demands a full Israeli withdrawal and the return of UNRWA, not to mention funding for a full-scale rebuilding effort in Gaza:
According to the al-Akhbar report, the first stage would see Israeli forces withdraw from populated areas, and the United Nations would be permitted to set up tent encampments. This phase…
