Netanyahu’s allies demand ‘military pressure’ over revival of Gaza truce talks
Israel’s premier has approved an Israeli delegation’s trip to discuss ceasefire and exchange efforts with officials in Qatar
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition allies in the National Security and Finance Ministries continue to obstruct ceasefire and exchange negotiations, as a new round of talks is expected to take place in the coming days.
“The formation of the negotiating delegation was not in accordance with the opinion of the members of the Israeli government. The minister opposed sending any delegation on the basis that at the current stage, pressure must be continued on Hamas, especially after the assassination of Sinwar,” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said on 24 October.
“It is forbidden to give Hamas oxygen,” he added. “[Israel must] continue working against it. This is the safe and correct path that will lead to victory and the return of the kidnapped to their homes, not the path of deals that will allow Hamas to reorganize its forces.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also strongly denounced the initiative to revive the negotiations and blasted Qatari involvement in the process.
“I strongly do not support the Prime Minister's decision to approve the Mossad chief's trip to the negotiations,” Smotrich said. “Qatar is an enemy state and supports Hamas and its positions in the negotiations,” he added.
“Negotiations alone will not return the kidnapped soldiers, and continued military pressure on Hamas is the best option, just as our soldiers are doing now in the northern Gaza Strip.”
Washington and Doha announced on Thursday that talks would be held over the weekend in the Qatari capital. Netanyahu’s office announced that night that Mossad chief David Barnea will head to Doha on Sunday for talks on a potential agreement.
According to Egypt’s Al-Qahera News TV, a delegation of Hamas officials has met with an Egyptian security delegation in Cairo to discuss the efforts.
Hebrew news outlet Walla reported this week that Shin Bet head Ronen Bar presented an Egyptian proposal for a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of the limited number of Israeli captives.
Cairo has not commented on the proposal allegedly floated by Egypt. An Egyptian source told Al-Qahera News that “Egypt insists that any steps towards calm must lead to a comprehensive cease-fire in the region.”
Hamas has held fast to its terms for a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, particularly in the aftermath of Yahya Sinwar’s killing. Tel Aviv is still insistent on maintaining a troop presence in key areas of the strip and continuing the fighting against Hamas until the goals of the war are achieved.
A Palestinian leadership source told Al Mayadeen on 25 October that Israel is trying to avoid a comprehensive agreement through “partial deals," and that Hamas will reject this.
The revival of the negotiation process comes as Israeli forces are implementing the General’s Plan in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds have been killed and hundreds of others displaced as part of the plan, which aims to exterminate or expel the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who remain in north Gaza and transform the area into an isolated military zone.
Hamas said on Thursday that it had launched an “intensive” political and diplomatic campaign in order to thwart the General’s Plan.