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Far-right Israeli minister slams ‘terrible’ captive deal
Israel’s Minister of Settlements and National Missions Orit Strock has said Netanyahu’s administration “has no right to exist” due to the “terrible” captive deal it is negotiating with Hamas.
“[We have] soldiers who left everything behind and went out to fight for goals that the government defined, and we throw it in the trash to save 22 people or 33 or I don’t know how many,” she told Army Radio.
The terms of the deal have not been made public but Israeli media have reported that Israel is seeking the return of 33 captives in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has also threatened to leave Netanyahu’s coalition government if the deal, which is expected to include a truce, is signed.
Hamas official says still weighing ceasefire offer, dismisses Blinken’s ‘pressure’: Report
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, has dismissed US Secretary of State Blinken’s assertion that Hamas would be accountable if a ceasefire deal fails, saying it’s a tactic to pressure Hamas while shifting blame away from Israel.
“Blinken’s comments contradict reality. It is not strange for Blinken, who is known as the foreign minister of Israel, not America, to make such a statement,” Abu Zuhri told Reuters.
“Even the Israeli negotiating team admitted Netanyahu was the one who was hindering reaching an agreement,” he added.
Abu Zuhri said that the group was still studying the recent ceasefire offer. Hamas is seeking the release of prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu says Israel needs to destroy the remaining Hamas formations in Rafah in southern Gaza for its own security, with or without a deal with Hamas.
Netanyahu tells Blinken he will not accept deal that ends war in Gaza: Report
Israel’s prime minister has told Blinken he will not accept a deal that includes ending the war on Gaza, Israeli media reported.
According to senior American and Israeli officials, Netanyahu said if Hamas insists on ending the war, the deal will not be accepted and Israel will be forced to launch a military offensive in Rafah, Israeli news agency Walla reported.
Blinken met Israeli leaders in his push for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, saying “the time is now” for an agreement that would free captives and bring a pause in the war.
