Facing media criticism over the lack of progress in hostage deal negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday that he is “prepared to go very far” to release hostages in Gaza.
He said in a statement, “He is prepared to go very far to release all of our hostages while maintaining the security of Israel.”
The Prime Minister insists it is Hamas, not him, who is standing in the way of an agreement to release the remaining hostages in Gaza.
“While we have not added even a single demand to the outline, it is Hamas that has demanded to add dozens of changes. It has not withdrawn its demand that Israel not be able to return to the war.”
Netanyahu continues, “It demands that we withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah Crossing—its lifelines [on Gaza’s Sinai border], which would allow it to rearm and rebuild its strength. It is important to determine the principle: We are not leaving from there.
Netanyahu sought to counter reports from Axios that Israeli security officials have indicated that Netanyahu does not want to forward with the hostage agreement.
According to a report, Ronen Bar, head of Shin Bet, told Netanyahu that if he’s not prepared to exchange Palestinian prisoners for hostages, he should just say so.
The Prime Minister responded by calling them “weaklings” and saying they were playing into the hands of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
