Netanyahu trying to 'blow up’ potential deal with Hamas: Israeli sources

Sources from the Israeli negotiating team accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to "blow up" the talks and obstruct reaching a hostage swap deal with Hamas, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN said Tuesday.

This coincided with media leaks about a recent meeting Netanyahu had with representatives of the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza, during which he admitted that he was unsure about the possibility of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians.

"Netanyahu's statements aim to sabotage the negotiations," the authority reported, citing sources in the Israeli negotiating team.

KAN added that "the prime minister is aware that we are in a critical period, as we are working on finding solutions for the Philadelphia Corridor and the Netzarim Passage and we will present this matter before the next meeting" with the mediators in Cairo, the date of which has not yet been set.

"Netanyahu is making statements that contradict what has been agreed upon with the mediators," further said the broadcaster.

"Israel will not, under any circumstances, leave the Philadelphi Corridor and the Netzarim Axis despite the enormous pressure it is under to do so," Netanyahu said earlier in statements cited by Israeli daily Maariv during a meeting with families of Israelis held captive in Gaza.

Gaza cease-fire talks in Qatar concluded on Friday by presenting "a proposal that narrows the gaps" between Israel and Hamas that is consistent with the principles set out by Biden on May 31.

Biden said in May that Israel presented a three-phase deal that would end hostilities in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held in the coastal enclave.

The plan includes a cease-fire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and the...