Netanyahu facing ‘very crucial’ choice during ceasefire talks
Meron Rapoport, editor of the Israeli news outlet Local Call, says it’s “unclear” what the response by PM Benjamin Netanyahu will be to the ceasefire response that Hamas sent.
“Netanyahu is facing a choice that could be very crucial, I would even say to the future of Israel. On one hand, it seems he is very keen on going all the way in occupying Gaza City, destroying it and expelling its residents,” Rapoport told Al Jazeera from Tel Aviv.
“On the other hand, he does seem to be under pressure from within [the government], also from the Israeli public, from the army, and also from the international community to end the war, and he has here a chance,” he said.
Rapoport explained that Netanyahu has the opportunity now to say he forced Hamas into accepting a ceasefire deal that the group had previously refused.
“I think it’s very hard to know what he will decide,” he said.
Family of captives told ceasefire being discussed ‘under complete media blackout’
Israeli media outlet Haaretz is reporting that Israel’s Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons Gal Hirsch has addressed the families of captives being held in Gaza following news of Hamas’s response to a ceasefire proposal.
“The discussions, the processes and the overall actions relating to the hostages and missing persons on all different levels – all of these are taking place around the clock and under a complete media blackout. In general, and especially at a time like this, it is better that it be so,” he was quoted as saying.
Israeli gov’t demanding released of all captives: Israeli media report
Israeli media is reporting that the Israeli government is insisting on the release of all 50 remaining captives as part of any ceasefire deal, appearing to signal a rejection of the latest proposal put forward by mediators which Hamas responded positively to.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan cited the prime minister’s office, while Israel National News and AFP news agency quoted a senior Israeli official reaffirming the same position.
No official Israeli response on latest ceasefire framework
When the Israeli PM did speak, he only said that Hamas is under atomic pressure and that he was following media reports, but didn’t say if Israel is even interested in any partial deal, because members of his right-wing government have signalled that that is not on the table for them.
The country’s defence minister, Israel Katz, also said that Hamas only now wants to come back to the negotiating table because they know that the Israeli military is moving forward with the occupation of Gaza City.
It’s worth mentioning that after Hamas had given their approval of the framework that mediators are currently presenting, it is now bringing on a lot of different pressure on Netanyahu, especially by family members of Israeli captives and the general protest movement in Israel.
