US, Israeli officials say terror group short on weapons, desperate for ceasefire, emboldening PM to play hardball; Mossad chief said to back him; others say demands ‘will prevent deal’
Hamas has softened some of its stances in hostage talks, with intelligence assessments indicating the terror group wants a ceasefire in Gaza due to its weakening military position, the Axios outlet reported Thursday, citing Israeli and American officials.
An Israeli official involved in the negotiations told Axios that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in turn, has toughened Israel’s demands for a deal as a result of this intelligence, explaining that the premier “is trying to use Hamas’s weakness to get as much as he can out of the negotiations.”
“But there is a risk that he will go too far and the negotiations collapse,” the official said, adding that the premier wants a deal, but is willing to play hardball.
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