There are two items today that are important.
First, the negotiations in Qatar for the release of hostages held (illegally) by Hamas. It looks to me like Hamas is feeling confident that their propaganda campaign is succeeding. They just need to play for more time and the Israeli threat to their regime will be eclipsed by the mass of “humanitarian crisis” coverage everywhere. Part of the “game” of taking more time is to extend the negotiations. Hamas is offering to trade hostages for a cease-fire. They know a cease-fire is not realistic, so they are willing to talk about extended pauses in the violence. One of their “offers” is to trade hostages for a 3 day long “pause”. The expectation is that after three days Israel will not be able to resume offensive action because of international pressure. Notice how this fits in with their usual script. They want others to do the work for them.
Another part of the Hamas initial offer is the limited number of hostages they are willing to release. One source says it is only 16 (out of over 210!) and includes 8 who hold US passports. Here, too, the emphasis is on splitting up support for the IDF action. Another source says that the Hamas demands include the release of all terrorists in Israeli prisons. As an alternative, they would release some hostages in return for some prisoners. The precedent of trading over 1000 prisoners for captive IDF soldier Gilad Schalit a few years ago has not been forgotten.
The vast gap between the reported Hamas offers and the Israeli position that ALL the hostages should be immediately released (in return for nothing, as required by the Hague conventions) is obvious. So is the tactic of drawing out the negotiations as a ploy to gain time.
The second important item is that revelations of potential complicity and certain bias on the part of some major media players is taking place. In the face of these “discoveries”, CNN has suspended one of their Gaza reporters and is busily releasing statements claiming they really are making honest reports. So are Reuters and AP. Reporters who have actually been there, and are not in danger of losing their jobs, know better; and should say so. One Israeli commentator put it like this: “So what news coming from Hamas controlled Gaza is trustworthy? The answer is NONE!”
Wetherhorn 