John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, shared that there has been no significant development regarding the negotiations for a hostage release and a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. He emphasized, “We are not on the verge of signing an agreement,” but clarified that efforts are continuing, stating, “But we are working on it very diligently. There’s still a lot of work to do. Hamas continues to be ‘the main stumbling block,’ but we are putting a lot of pressure on it.”
On the subject of the Assad regime’s downfall in Syria, Kirby noted, “Hamas should now feel isolated, following the ceasefire deal in Lebanon, and its leaders should agree to a deal to end the war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that, even in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages, Israel will not agree to end the war permanently.”
He added, “It remains to be seen whether Hamas will make a move. It is worthwhile, because no one can come to its aid. They can’t trust Hezbollah, they certainly can’t trust Iran. It’s time to reach a deal.”
Discussing Israel’s operations in Syria, Kirby explained, “The IDF’s activity in Syria is aimed at urgently eliminating what they perceive as immediate threats to Israel’s security. We continue to support the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement and maintain close communication with our Israeli counterparts on this matter. We are also aware of the fact that Assad retains stockpiles of chemical weapons, and we share concerns about their potential use.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, and the head of the Mossad, Ronen Bar, recently concluded a trip to Cairo, where they engaged in talks about the hostages and regional security matters. Last week, Egypt suggested a new proposal that would initiate a gradual halt in hostilities in Gaza, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrawing from the Rafah Crossing in exchange for a 60-day temporary ceasefire declaration.
Under this proposed ceasefire, the return of Israeli hostages would begin one week after the agreement is enacted. Alongside this, hundreds of Palestinian terrorists would be released from Israeli prisons. Throughout the 60-day ceasefire, Israel would maintain a military presence in Gaza, and the Rafah Crossing would be transferred to the supervision of the Palestinian Authority.
{Matzav.com}
This effort is doomed, but it is also wrong.
The only peaceful end to this war is the total 100% eradication of Hamas. Any negotiation for a deal allows Hamas to survive, and that should be unacceptable to anyone with moral conscience. So Hamas, or whoever is serving as the representative for this herd of wild animals, will not negotiate for its own destruction. This attempt is doomed.
If a deal involves allowing a single member of this bloodthirsty tribe to survive, then it is wrong. Israel should NOT release a single terrorist from prison. Those terrorists should be executed, and buried at sea with no celebratory funerals for “martyrs”. Let the sharks feast. No Hamas member should be left alive.