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 would also see the cessation of all forms of air activity, including reconnaissance, for the duration of the period. ...

The report also said that under Hamas’s framework, Gazans would be given freedom of movement, including of the sick and wounded through Rafah to Egypt; heavy equipment would enter the Strip for the removal of rubble; health ministry and civil defense equipment would be replaced; hospitals would be rebuilt; tent cities would be set up to house the population; at least 60,00 temporary homes would be supplied as well as 200,000 tents at a rate of 50,000 per week; the reconstruction of water, electricity and communications networks would start; a plan would be made for the reconstruction of homes, economic establishments and public facilities to take no longer than three years; the fuel to Gaza for the reconfiguration of power plants would resume; Israel would commit to the supply of electricity and water; there would be indirect discussions for a continued ceasefire; and humanitarian services by international organizations including the United Nations, especially UNRWA, would resume.

The specific inclusion of UNRWA is significant, as Israel has said that it would not allow the Palestinian refugee agency to operate in the Strip at the conclusion of the war, after alleging that 12 of the organization’s staffers participated in the Hamas-led October 7 terror onslaught. Israel has long said UNRWA was, willfully or under threat, providing cover for Hamas terrorists.

Plus, there was this inscrutable additional demand:

The Al-Akbar report also said that Hamas stated that the situation on the flashpoint Temple Mount in Jerusalem must return to its pre-2002 status. It is unclear which event was being referred to in that year.

The chutzpah of this proposal boggles the mind, as do its implications. Hamas is on the verge of total defeat, and yet demands in essence that Israel surrender. Not only does Hamas demand a complete withdrawal, but they also want the world to reward them with billions of dollars in new aid through the corrupt UNRWA, whose staff participated in the massacres that started this war. They also demand that Israel supply Gaza with water, electricity, and food -- after Hamas deliberately attempted to destroy Israel's agricultural industry on October 7. 

And by controlling all of these concessions, the proposal would reinforce Hamas' grip on Gaza, and not just out of popular support. Hamas would ensure that only loyal Gazans would benefit from all of these goods and services. This deal would make it impossible to dislodge Hamas short of another all-out war, which Hamas would launch just as soon as they can rebuild the terrorism infrastructure that Israel destroyed in this war.

This isn't a peace deal. It's a set-up for perpetual war and eventual annihilation. And Israel knows it. 

Benjamin Netanyahu rejected it categorically, and committed to "absolute victory" instead:

Netanyahu made the comments Wednesday shortly after meeting the visiting U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who has been traveling the region in hopes of securing a cease-fire agreement.

“We are on the way to an absolute victory,” Netanyahu said, adding that the operation would last months, not years. “There is no other solution.”

He ruled out any arrangement that leaves Hamas in full or partial control of Gaza. He also said that Israel is the “only power” capable of guaranteeing security in the long term.

Speaking of Blinken, one would think that this set of absurd demands would disabuse the Biden administration of the idea that they can achieve an actual peace by negotiating with terrorists. Instead, Blinken's back in Israel again, and met with Netanyahu at length about the proposal, apparently in blissful unawareness of its implications. That meeting went so well that both men planned separate press conferences for later in the evening:

“We’re looking at it intensely,” Blinken told Herzog after Hamas presented its terms, “as is, I know, the government of Israel, and there’s a lot of work to be done, but we are very much focused on doing that work and hopefully, being able to resume the release of hostages that was interrupted so many months ago.”

Before his meeting with the president, Blinken held an extended one-on-one meeting with Netanyahu.

The PMO did not release any details from the meeting in its readout, but said it was “long and in-depth.”

After Blinken and his aides met with Netanyahu and his staff, Netanyahu’s office announced that the prime minister would be holding a press conference in Jerusalem Wednesday evening to discuss attempts to reach a deal.

Blinken had already scheduled a presser before Netanyahu announced his. Rather than join the PM for a joint presser, Blinken decided to postpone his until after Netanyahu speaks. Does that sound like two people on the same page?

I know how American media will cover it -- that Netanyahu is a warmonger and that Blinken is a tireless peace advocate. Bet on it. 

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Update: Apparently, Hamas didn't want their demands to be made public, according to an Israeli analyst. Hezbollah leaked the document against their wishes:

Hamas's demands for the proposed hostage deal were prematurely published by Hezbollah, Channel 12 expert and commentator Ehud Ya’ari claimed on Wednesday. ...

He claimed the document was released against the wishes of Hamas: "Hamas did not want to release this document. It was published by Hezbollah. Yesterday, Qatar's foreign minister rushed to report and speak with the Iranian Foreign Minister. Hamas did not plan for things to be published like this. I have a feeling, from the relationship with them, that they were a little surprised."

"As far as Hamas is concerned, this should not have been published. This is the beginning of a difficult debate that can take time. It’s not that they submitted a document, and it is final. They will have to continue bargaining, and it will be a difficult bargaining," he added.

Maybe. I'd buy this except that Hamas hasn't changed its position at all, except to add even more ridiculous demands to it. 

Update: Antony Blinken followed up Netanyahu's categorical rejection by insisting the Hamas proposal could work as a framework for negotiation:

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas is still possible.

Blinken made the announcement late Wednesday after talks with Israeli leaders. The discussions focused on Hamas’ response to a cease-fire proposal floated by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.

“While there are some clear nonstarters in Hamas’ response, we do think it creates space for an agreement to be reached,” Blinken said.

"Some clear non-starters"? The whole thing is a non-starter. Why would the US even consider putting money into Gaza after Israel has exposed where all the previous money went? Why would we negotiate at all with the barbaric monsters that perpetrated the October 7 massacres and who still hold American hostages? This is insane.