Hamas in touch with mediators on Gaza ceasefire proposal
Hamas says it has shared its plan with mediators about a potential ceasefire-for-captives deal. Israel has said it is examining the offer and its intelligence agency, Mossad, will respond.
The Association of Families of Israeli Prisoners Detained in Gaza says millions of people will protest if the Israeli government does not accept the deal.
Israeli cabinet to meet over Hamas ceasefire proposal: Report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene later this evening a meeting of his security cabinet to discuss proposals from Hamas about a possible ceasefire deal in Gaza, a source in Netanyahu’s office has told Reuters news agency.
Before the cabinet meets, Netanyahu will have consultations with his negotiations team, the source added. This comes as Hamas said it has shared a plan with Qatari and Egyptian mediators about a potential ceasefire and a deal for the release of captives.
Netanyahu, allies collaborating to sabotage captives exchange deal: Report
There is disagreement between Israel’s security establishment and the political leadership regarding concluding a new prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, Israeli daily Yediot Ahronoth reports. The newspaper said senior security sources accuse Netanyahu and his allies of collaborating to sabotage any chance for a new deal and a truce in Gaza.
Growing tension in security establishment over Netanyahu’s ‘impossible’ political goal
Answering the question of whether the war on Gaza may be resolved by fractures in Israeli politics rather than military action, Tamer Qarmout, a professor at the Doha Institute of Graduate Studies, says it’s yet to be seen how effective Netanyahu’s coalition is in subduing voices in the security and army establishment.
“We have been in this situation before when it comes to these talks, and they have fared miserably because of Netanyahu and his coalition’s position on it. The parties in his coalition have threatened that they will withdraw immediately if he engages in any permanent ceasefire talks that won’t lead to achieving the goals of this war,” Qarmout told Al Jazeera.
“This time, the new developments are that in the security establishment in Israel, there is growing tension and frustration and a realisation that achieving the political goal of Netanyahu and his coalition government is impossible. It has proved to be very difficult on the ground, especially with the lack of any vision on the day after this war ends for rule in Gaza and ending the conflict.”
He added that Netanyahu and his coalition government find themselves alone as the Americans – their best allies – have also tried to lay out some exit strategies, but they haven’t been listening. “The security establishment is frustrated and there is war fatigue even in this establishment,” Qarmout said.
Captives deal ‘closer than ever’: Gallant
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has told a group of families of captives held in the Gaza Strip that a deal for the return of their loved ones is “closer than ever,” Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reports.
Former Israeli war cabinet minister: Captive deal ‘closer than ever’
Gadi Eisenkot, a former member of Israel’s now-dissolved war cabinet, told local news outlet Walla that negotiations for a ceasefire and the return of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip are closer to completion than ever before.
However, he said, “I find it difficult to see [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu rise to the level of strategic leadership and make a very difficult decision to stop the war” in order to return the captives, a longtime demand of Hamas.
“I find it difficult to see Netanyahu accept the deal and tell Smotrich and Ben-Gvir that this is the right thing … Netanyahu faces a strategic dilemma, either the return of the kidnapped or the survival of his government,” he continued, adding that the prime minister, in his opinion, is no longer able to serve Israel’s best interests.
Big question is, If Netanyahu can finally be convinced to a ceasefire in Gaza, will he invade Lebanon to stay in power. Hezbollah claims they will be done once a permanent ceasefire is reached in Gaza, yet Netanyahu would lose his government position and immunity. Netanyahu will be back to facing corruption charges and investigation in his role in the Oct 7 attacks.
Meanwhile the raids and destruction in the West Bank will go on without intervention. Gaza needs a ceasefire yesterday, yet even if it happens, there is currently no solution in the works for the underlying problems that started this round of mass destruction and massacres, only escalation.
Indonesia and Malaysia have offered to be part of UN peace keeping forces in Gaza, yet so far no word from the UN on any peacekeeping forces. All Google can find is this https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-ready-to-deploy-police-force-to-gaza-official/3259433 which doesn't say very much
"Lacroix said that it is uncertain whether this third party would be the UN, adding that certain processes would be required for the involvement of the UN peacekeeping force and that the UN Security Council is part of this process."
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