Channel 12 news, reporting on today’s discussions between Israel’s negotiators for a hostage agreement and a visiting team of mediators from Egypt, cites an unnamed Israeli source emphasizing Israel’s stance to the Egyptians and indirectly to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The source underscores that this represents the “last moment” for a deal, warning of the imminent commencement of an IDF ground operation in Rafah if an agreement is not reached promptly.
According to the source, Israel is resolute in not allowing Sinwar to prolong the negotiations, presenting a clear ultimatum of “either a deal in the near future, or Rafah.” It’s believed that the mastermind behind the October 7 tragedy is concealed within the Hamas tunnel network in Rafah, potentially using hostages as human shields.
The report corroborates Israel’s willingness to accept the release of fewer than the initially proposed 40 hostages. However, it rejects Hamas’s alleged proposal of freeing only 20 hostages. Israel insists that all 33 hostages meeting the “humanitarian” criteria—comprising women, children, men over 50, and the infirm—must be liberated.
The report highlights a potential stumbling block concerning the number of hostages to be released if mediation progresses with Hamas, though it clarifies that no significant progress has been made in that regard thus far.
There’s no indication in the report regarding whether this agreement would constitute the first phase of a broader deal encompassing all hostages, the duration of the proposed accompanying ceasefire, or Hamas’s persistent demand for Israel to cease hostilities entirely as a precondition for further hostage releases.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has consistently rejected the notion of terminating the conflict until Hamas is dismantled as both a military and governing entity.
The report underscores Israel’s readiness, as part of an agreement, to permit residents to return to northern Gaza, potentially without stringent checks to prevent the return of Hamas members. It suggests Israel may also consider withdrawing IDF forces from the corridor dividing northern and southern Gaza.
While the IDF has finalized preparations for a potential operation in Rafah, the government hesitates to coordinate such an offensive with the US administration.
However, several sources within the defense establishment assert a pressing need to prioritize the hostages, emphasizing that time is of the essence. They stress that the IDF can resume military action if necessary, even if temporarily paused for a hostage agreement.
Unnamed defense sources quoted by Channel 12 urge Netanyahu to vigorously pursue a hostage deal, expressing concerns about opposition from the far-right flank of his coalition, particularly from Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir.
These sources also view addressing Hamas’s four battalions within Rafah as less urgent than securing the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent Hamas from smuggling arms and materials. Israel and Egypt are reportedly collaborating on implementing a sensor system along the Philadelphi border corridor.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Not sure what happens next if hamas releases just ⁸40 hostages.