More than 250 former Mossad members call to end war and return captives
Israeli news outlet Ynet has reported that more than 250 former Mossad intelligence members have signed a letter calling for the end of the war on Gaza and a return of the captives held in the enclave.
The letter by the former Mossad agents was initiated by the retired senior officer Gail Shoresh and signed by three former heads of the intelligence agency.
This comes after army reservists signed a letter to call for the immediate return of the captives, even if it means changing the army’s current directive. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the letter, calling them “marginal and extremist”.
Israel’s defence minister says attacks on Gaza will ‘intensify’ if Hamas does not accept deal
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says the military is expanding its security zone in northern Gaza after capturing the Morag Corridor separating Rafah from Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Saturday.
Katz wrote on X that along with the issuing of forced evacuation orders for Palestinians, the army’s actions are to exert “heavy pressure on Hamas in favor of returning to the outline of releasing the hostages”.
“The more Hamas persists in its refusal, the more the [Israeli military] activity will intensify – while continuing to thwart its operatives and destroy its infrastructure. Gaza will become smaller and more isolated, and more and more of its residents will be forced to evacuate from the fighting zones,” he added.
Earlier, Hamas said in a statement that the widespread attacks on Gaza would not secure the return of the captives held in the enclave – only a prisoner swap would.
On Saturday, the group sent a delegation to Cairo to restart ceasefire negotiations.
Attacks on Gaza attempt by Israel to force release of captives: Hamas
Hamas says Israel’s attacks on Gaza are a “bloody message to pressure” the group into releasing the captives.
“Netanyahu and his government will not make any progress on the prisoner issue without a prisoner exchange deal. Escalation is a losing gamble at the expense of his prisoners,” Hamas said in a statement, referring to the captives it holds in Gaza.
“The prisoners will not be returned by military escalation, but rather by a decision Netanyahu refuses to make.”
On Saturday, Hamas sent a delegation to Cairo to restart possible ceasefire negotiations after Israel broke the deal in March.
