Netanyahu halted hostage deal with Hamas to appease Ben-Gvir, Smotrich: Report

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu missed the opportunity in July to conclude a hostage swap deal with Hamas to appease his far-right coalition partners, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Public Broadcaster (KAN) reported. ). Sunday.

According to the report, Hamas was willing to release several Israeli hostages without demanding a complete ceasefire in return. The report suggested that Hamas’s willingness at the time was an attempt to connect the first and second phases of a US ceasefire proposal, which also included humanitarian aid.

However, the report did not provide further details, although Hamas has repeatedly said it would release the Israeli prisoners only if the deal resulted in a complete cessation of Israel’s attack on Gaza.

At the time, the US proposal included three phases: the first included an immediate ceasefire; the release of women, the elderly and injured Israeli hostages; and a prisoner exchange, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza. It also included increasing humanitarian assistance, rebuilding basic services and facilitating the return of civilians to their homes in Gaza.

The second phase required the release of all remaining hostages and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, with the aim of finally ending the crisis.

The third phase involved the reconstruction of Gaza over several years and the return of the remains of Israeli soldiers.

KAN said Netanyahu rejected the proposal, mainly because he opposed the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, with areas such as the Philadelphi Corridor and the Netzarim Axis becoming obstacles to the ceasefire.

An unnamed Israeli source quoted by the broadcaster said Netanyahu’s refusal to accept the deal was aimed at appeasing Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, who had threatened to leave the government if the deal was signed.

Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt and Qatar have so far failed to lead to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza, but Washington claims that Israel’s October 16 killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar led to a can lead to a breakthrough in the conversations.

However, Hamas says the conflict will not end until Israel ends its military campaign in the blockaded enclave, which has killed nearly 44,000 people since October 2023.

The second year of genocide in Gaza has drawn increasing international condemnation, with figures and institutions labeling the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.

On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its brutal war against Gaza.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala

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