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‘A problem in Washington, not just in Tel Aviv’
An editorial in the Haaretz newspaper today accused Benny Gantz, who is supposed to be the moderate in the Israeli war cabinet, of lying to the Israeli people when he says, “We are attacking Rafah to save the captives” – because he is lying. Netanyahu is lying. War cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot is lying.
They are lying when they say we do not accept a prisoner deal in order to save the captives. Israel’s policy towards its own captives has been criminal.
Hamas accepted the deal, provided to it by the United States, by William Burns, director of the CIA. The fact that we are going back again to the cycle of diplomacy – as if nothing happened two days ago – tells me there’s a problem in Washington, not just in Tel Aviv. Why is Burns being stabbed in the back by his own administration?
When he reached the deal, it was on the basis that the Egyptians, the Israelis, the Qataris, and Hamas are on board. Burns brought them a deal that is excellent for everyone and brings the captives back and releases Palestinian prisoners, and ends the unfolding genocide in Gaza.
Israel rejected it and the US administration didn’t stand behind its CIA director.
Ex-Israeli army chief says captives cannot be freed without stopping war
Aviv Kochavi was quoted by Israeli media as saying “total victory” in Gaza will take “years” to achieve. “I don’t think there is a way to bring back the hostages without halting for the time being the war,” Kochavi said in remarks aired by Channel 12.
Kochavi’s term ended early in 2023, months before the outbreak of the war on Gaza.
‘We are losing them,’ says grandson of Israeli captive
The grandson of Israeli captive Oded Lifshitz, 84, says his family has not heard anything about the condition of his grandfather in six months.
“It’s unimaginable that my grandfather is the only great grandfather held hostage in the world. That’s a horrible title to have,” Daniel Lifshitz told Al Jazeera. “Every day we are losing them. I don’t know the real number [of captives] there, but I’m sure many of them are not alive any more.”
He added the negotiations for the release of those taken are “under fire”.
“It’s impossible that we are even speaking seven months after about the release of old people. It’s against humanity … I prefer there will be no more suffering for civilians on the Palestinian side and our side and there’s an agreement to end that.”
Relatives and supporters of captives held in Gaza demonstrate in Israel
‘This is how negotiations are done in the Middle East’
While some Israelis are calling for no ground invasion of Rafah, others are demanding the government and military to press ahead.
“We applaud the Israeli government and the [Israeli military] for going into Rafah,” said Mirit Hoffman, a spokesperson for Mothers of IDF Soldiers, a group representing families of serving military personnel, which wants an uncompromising line to pressure Hamas to surrender.
“We think that this is how negotiations are done in the Middle East.”
The opposing pressures mirror divisions in Israel’s war cabinet between centrist ministers concerned at alienating Washington – Israel’s most vital ally and supplier of arms – and religious nationalist hardliners determined to clear Hamas out of the Gaza Strip.
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