Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is engaged in political consultations to ensure that a potential prisoner exchange deal, if reached, does not affect his government coalition, Israeli media reported.
According to the news website Makan, Netanyahu plans to send messages to the two ministers opposed to the deal: Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The letter is reportedly meant to request that they do not dismantle the government.
In other words, Netanyahu is requesting that Smotrich and Ben-Gvir avoid dissolving the government during the Knesset recess if the deal is signed. He has asked them to wait until after the 42-day war pause, which marks the end of the first phase of the deal, to resume the genocide in Gaza, before making their final decision about it.
The report also indicates that Aryeh Deri, leader of the Shas party, has returned to limited security consultations this week after being absent for several weeks. This return is seen, in Israeli media, as a sign that a deal may be nearing completion.
This revelation, Makan reported, highlights Netanyahu’s premeditated strategy to potentially undermine any ceasefire agreement after achieving the expected gains, aligning with accusations from his opponents that he prioritizes the survival of his government over other considerations.
On Friday, AFP reported, citing a Hamas source, that the movement will accept nothing less than a complete ceasefire, a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced persons to their homes, and an unconditional prisoner exchange deal. The report also revealed that “the Israeli delegation has imposed new conditions to obstruct the deal.”
Among these conditions, “Israel” insists on maintaining military forces in the Philadelphi Axis and demands the right to veto prisoner names and deport some prisoners outside of Palestine.
Netanyahu sabotaged deal; no more futile negotiations: Hamas official
“Israel” has thwarted the Doha negotiations regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and the efforts of mediators, said Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, adding that none of the disputed issues have been settled during the talks.
In an interview for Al Mayadeen on Friday, Hamad reiterated the Hamas’ source demands of no agreement without a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, the return of displaced people, and the completion of a prisoner exchange deal.
He affirmed that Hamas’ stance is strong and unwavering and enjoys the full backing of Palestinian factions, adding, “We will no longer engage in futile negotiations.”
The Hamas official accused Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deception, adding that he has not provided clear answers to the key questions needed to reach an agreement.
According to Hamad, Netanyahu is laying out new conditions and undermining previously agreed-upon terms with the aim of prolonging the war on Gaza.
He also recalled that the Israeli premier has been unequivocal in stating that he has no intention to stop the war.
