As the clock ticks for Israeli hostages in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting accusations of deliberately stalling ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.

According to Haaretz, citing a senior Israeli official, Israel has agreed to a general cease-fire for six weeks. During this period, Hamas would release between 20-30 hostages classified as “humanitarian” such as women, children, and the injured in exchange for hundreds of dangerous Arab prisoners.

Further discussions for an extended agreement would continue during this phase, which includes more hostages released in exchange for staged IDF withdrawals from Gaza.

However, Netanyahu is reportedly complicating the negotiations by introducing new stipulations. One such demand is his insistence that armed Arabs be barred from re-entering northern Gaza. Another has been his insistence that IDF forces maintain control over the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah Crossing in order to prevent weapons smuggling.

“This is the moment of truth for the hostages, but there is someone among us who is delaying the deal,” the source said.

“It is possible to reach an agreement within two weeks and release the hostages, but the Prime Minister’s insistence on building a mechanism to prevent its passage will stall the negotiations for weeks, and by then there may be no one to bring back.”

On Friday, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement denying the allegations.

“The claims about new principles are false and fundamentally unfounded. The Prime Minister insisted, and continues to insist, on the firm positions in accordance with the outline for the return of the hostages. It is Hamas who is trying to change the outline, and the Prime Minister strongly opposes this.”