Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Announces Hostage Deal Reached After Last-Minute Snags

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip had been successfully reached. This announcement comes after earlier reports from his office suggested that there had been last-minute complications in finalizing a ceasefire agreement, which would bring a pause to the 15 months of ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.

According to Netanyahu, the resolution of these final hurdles signals a significant breakthrough in the negotiations, which have been fraught with tension and complexity. The hostages, many of whom have been held captive since the early stages of the conflict, are expected to be released under the terms of this deal, offering a glimmer of hope for families who have been awaiting their loved ones’ return.

In response to the developments, Netanyahu stated that he would convene his security Cabinet later on Friday to discuss the details of the agreement. Following this, the government would meet to approve the long-awaited deal, marking a critical step forward in the region’s pursuit of peace and stability.

While specifics regarding the terms of the deal remain under wraps, sources suggest that it may involve a temporary ceasefire, as well as other conditions related to humanitarian aid and prisoner exchanges. The international community has closely followed these negotiations, with many expressing hope that this deal could pave the way for a broader resolution to the conflict.

The announcement is likely to have significant political implications in Israel and Gaza, as both governments seek to navigate the complex dynamics surrounding the ongoing conflict and its resolution.

Netanyahu Clears Path for Hostage Deal, Ceasefire in Gaza Amid Continuing Violence

In a pre-dawn statement on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to pave the way for Israeli approval of a landmark deal that would bring a temporary pause to the brutal conflict in Gaza. The agreement, which has been the subject of intense negotiations, would see dozens of hostages held by Gaza militants released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel.

Additionally, the deal includes provisions for the safe return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to the remnants of their homes in Gaza, offering a glimmer of hope to families who have endured months of hardship and destruction. This step, according to Netanyahu’s statement, marks a significant moment in the ongoing effort to end the devastating violence and bring some semblance of peace to the region.

However, despite the potential breakthrough, the violence continues unabated. On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 72 people in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, underscoring the heavy toll the conflict has taken on the civilian population. The airstrikes are part of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in widespread devastation and loss of life.

While the hostage deal and ceasefire may offer a temporary respite from the fighting, the situation in Gaza remains precarious, with both sides deeply entrenched in the conflict. The international community continues to monitor the developments closely, hoping that the agreement could be the first step toward a broader resolution to the prolonged crisis.

Prime Minister Netanyahu revealed that he had instructed a special task force to prepare for the return of hostages from Gaza. Families of the hostages have already been notified that the deal has been reached, marking a crucial step in what has been a tense and prolonged negotiation process.

The approval of the ceasefire agreement was temporarily delayed on Thursday, as a last-minute dispute with Hamas complicated the situation. Additionally, tensions within Netanyahu’s government coalition further raised concerns about the deal’s implementation. This delay came just a day after U.S. President Joe Biden and key mediator Qatar had announced that the deal had been finalized.

Despite these setbacks, the deal offers hope for a significant reduction in the ongoing conflict, including the return of hostages and a temporary ceasefire. However, the internal political struggles in Israel and the continuing challenges in Gaza present uncertainties about how the agreement will unfold in practice.

Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement in an effort to extract additional concessions. Specifically, the new demands from Hamas were said to relate to the deployment of Israeli forces in the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip of land bordering Egypt that Israeli troops took control of in May.

However, Hamas denied these accusations. In a briefing on Thursday, Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, firmly stated that the group remained committed to the ceasefire agreement, as announced by the mediators. This exchange of claims and denials highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities in finalizing the ceasefire and hostage return deal.

The ceasefire agreement has sparked fierce resistance from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, who are essential to his political survival. On Thursday, Israel’s hard-line national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened to resign from the government if Israel went ahead with the ceasefire deal. His threat highlighted the significant political challenges Netanyahu faces within his coalition, where hard-line factions are strongly opposed to any deal that might be seen as compromising Israel’s security interests or territorial claims.

Following Netanyahu’s Friday announcement, there was no immediate response from Ben-Gvir, leaving observers to wonder how this political divide will impact the implementation of the ceasefire and the broader stability of Netanyahu’s government. The tension underscores the delicate balance Netanyahu must maintain between securing a resolution to the conflict and navigating the demands of his ideological allies.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged both Israel and Hamas to implement the Gaza ceasefire plan “without any delay” in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. Egypt has long been a key mediator in ceasefire negotiations between the two sides and continues to play a significant role in facilitating peace efforts.

The deal, announced Wednesday, aims to pause the fighting as a step toward eventually bringing an end to the 15-month war, which has caused significant instability in the Middle East and sparked widespread protests globally. The ceasefire is seen as a critical first step in de-escalating tensions and providing a path to longer-term peace.

The war was triggered by Hamas’ cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a devastating military offensive that, according to local health officials, has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians. These figures do not differentiate between civilians and militants, but reports indicate that women and children make up more than half of those killed.

The military campaign has caused extensive destruction in Gaza, displacing about 90% of the region’s 2.3 million residents. Hundreds of thousands are now living in dire conditions, facing hunger and disease in overcrowded tent camps along the coast.

Netanyahu faces heavy internal pressure

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has been under intense domestic pressure to bring the hostages home, with their families urging him to prioritize their loved ones’ release over political considerations. The emotional appeals from the families have heightened the urgency of securing a deal for the hostages’ return.

However, divisions within Israel’s political landscape were laid bare on Thursday, as Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s hard-line national security minister, threatened to resign. He criticized the ceasefire agreement as “reckless” and warned that it would “destroy all of Israel’s achievements.” Ben-Gvir’s remarks reflect the deep ideological divides within Netanyahu’s coalition, particularly among the far-right factions that have supported a more aggressive military approach.

If Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party were to leave the coalition, Netanyahu’s majority in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, would shrink from 68 to 62 seats, leaving his government with just a slim majority. Ben-Gvir indicated that his party would rejoin the coalition if Israel resumes its military offensive, further complicating Netanyahu’s efforts to balance both political pressures and the pursuit of a ceasefire.

Ben-Gvir’s resignation would not necessarily bring down Netanyahu’s government or derail the ceasefire deal, but it would significantly destabilize the government at a crucial time. If Ben-Gvir were to be joined by other key allies of Netanyahu, it could push the government toward collapse. One such ally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has strongly opposed the ceasefire agreement. He has insisted that Netanyahu commit to resuming the war against Hamas after the first phase of the ceasefire in exchange for his party remaining in the coalition. This demand adds further complexity to Netanyahu’s efforts to navigate the political challenges surrounding the ceasefire deal.

A night of heavy Israeli strikes

Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombardment on Thursday. In previous conflicts, both sides have tended to escalate military operations in the final hours before ceasefires, aiming to project strength. Mohammed Mahdi, sheltering in Gaza City, anticipated increased bombing, saying it mirrored past patterns when truce talks showed progress.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 72 deaths from Thursday’s airstrikes, although the actual number is likely higher. Health Ministry official Zaher al-Wahedi described the situation as progressively more bloody, stating, “Yesterday was a bloody day, and today is bloodier.”

The Israeli military said it targeted around 50 militant sites in Gaza, including weapons storage facilities and rocket launch sites, over the past day.

Tension and anxiety swept through Gaza as news emerged of last-minute disputes between Hamas and Israeli officials. In Deir al-Balah, Omar Jendiya pleaded for peace, saying, “We ask our brothers in Hamas to communicate with mediators to end the war. Enough with the destruction and killing.”

A phased withdrawal and hostage release with potential pitfalls

Under the ceasefire deal reached on Wednesday, 33 of the approximately 100 hostages still held in Gaza are set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. As part of the agreement, Israeli forces are expected to pull back from several areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to what remains of their homes. Additionally, there will be a surge in humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.

The remaining hostages, including male soldiers, will be released in a second phase, which is expected to be much more challenging to negotiate. Hamas has stated it will not release these hostages without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. On the other hand, Israel has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is dismantled and insists on maintaining open-ended security control over the territory.

Ceasefire leaves questions about Gaza’s future unanswered

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy participated in the final stages of the ceasefire talks, with both the outgoing Obama administration and Trump’s team taking credit for the breakthrough.

Longer-term questions remain about Gaza’s future after the war, including the question of who will govern the territory and oversee its reconstruction efforts.

Israel has faced heavy international criticism, including from its closest ally, the United States, for the civilian toll in Gaza. Israel, however, holds Hamas responsible for the casualties, accusing the group of using civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and residential areas for military purposes.

Hamas has been under significant pressure from Israel’s military invasion of Gaza’s major cities and towns, as well as the seizure of the Gaza-Egypt border. Many of its top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to have helped orchestrate the 2023 attack on Israel, have been killed.

Despite this, Hamas fighters have regrouped in some of Gaza’s most heavily damaged areas after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, which raises concerns about the potential for a prolonged insurgency if the war continues.

Courtesy: The National Desk

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• ^ הבקשה של