Middle East: Gaza War: Israel wrestles about hostage deals and war goals

After Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced new negotiations on the release of all hostages in the Gaza strip, a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet is planned for this Tuesday. The latest efforts about a hostage deal and the planned military operation in the city of Gaza in the north of the coastal area could be discussed. However, there are no official details about the session and the expected content.

Hamas had stated a week ago that it agreed to a new proposal by the intermediary states of Egypt and Qatar for a ceasefire. According to media reports, this is an adapted version of a previously negotiated proposal by the US specialist Steve Witkoff. This provides for a 60-day ceasefire, while the ten-living hostages are released in return for Palestinian prisoners.

The end of the war on Israel’s conditions

So far, Israel’s political leadership has not dealt with the answer of Hamas. According to media reports, Netanyahu was recently only available for a comprehensive agreement, i.e. an agreement that provides for the release of all hostages at once and ends the war on Israel’s conditions. A partial agreement, i.e. a temporary ceasefire, during which only part of the hostages is released, should no longer strive – even under the pressure of his ultra -right coalition partners.

Instead, one strives for a deal that provides for the release of all hostages, the disarmament and removal of Hamas as a military and governing force as well as Israel’s security control via Gaza. Critics accuse Netanyahu of wanting to sabotage an agreement with his conditions for an end of the war.

On Thursday, the head of government said that he had ordered “immediately negotiations to take the release of all of our hostages and the termination of the war on conditions that are acceptable for Israel”. It remained unclear when and where a new round of talks should take place.

At the same time, he approved the army for the city of Gaza. “These two things, the conversion of Hamas and the release of all of our hostages, go hand in hand,” Netanyahu continues. The Israeli security cabinet had approved the income of the city of Gaza and the evacuation of the population to the south at the beginning of the month.

According to the report, army chief warns of taking gaza

However, Israel’s army leadership sees considerable risks in the plan. According to a report by the Israeli TV broadcaster Channel 13, General chief of staff Ejal Zamir urgently warns about the dangers of taking the city of Gaza and urges to accept the presented proposal. Zamir had worked out the operational plans for taking the city of Gaza as required, the political leadership had already approved them.

According to the report, the military chief said: “There is a deal on the table, it is the improved Witkoff deal, we have to accept it. The army has created the conditions for a hostage deal, now it is in the hands of Netanyahu.” Zamir also warned that taking the city of Gaza would endanger the life of hostages. Hamas terrorists could murder the hostages or “commit suicide with them”. A total of 50 hostages are still captured in the Gaza Strip, 20 of which are said to be alive.

Planned several protest actions

Their relatives are also concerned about the safety of the kidnapped. Several protests by the hostage members are planned on Tuesday. “The absolute majority of the Israeli people want our relatives to return home. The delightful delay in signing an agreement on their return contradicts the will of the people and our basic values,” said the forum’s announcement.

The various actions under the motto “Israel stands together” should begin in the early morning – during the day, numerous other actions are planned nationwide. In the evening there is ultimately a large rally on the “Platz der Geiseln” in the center of Tel Aviv. A week ago, hundreds of thousands of Israelis expressed their solidarity with the hostages during a large demonstration.