The Israeli War Council concluded a meeting held last night, Thursday, in Tel Aviv to discuss the demands of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the response to them regarding the prisoner exchange deal involving those held in Gaza. The meeting was met with anger as the families of the detainees closed the main street leading to the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, demanding the return of their sons.
Israeli radio reported that the meeting witnessed anger among the ministers after Defense Minister Yuval Galant and Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi left in the middle of it, indicating that the council will hold another meeting next weekend without adding any details about the two meetings.
While no official statement has been issued about the meeting’s results, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to advocate for war, hinting at a military operation in Rafah to pressure Hamas militarily, amid U.S. rejection of conducting an operation in the densely populated refugee city.
Netanyahu publicly asserts Israel’s refusal to comply with Hamas’s demands, while Defense Minister Benny Gantz insists on giving top priority to the file of detainees in Gaza. The Ministerial Council for Security and Political Affairs is expected to meet after the conclusion of the War Council meeting.
Detainee Crisis
Netanyahu faces repeated criticism from within Israel and a number of politicians, including members of the War Council, due to the crisis of detainees in Gaza and the failure to reach a path ensuring their safe return.
In this context, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who concluded his visit to Israel yesterday, expressed shock at Netanyahu’s apparent attempt to confront Washington. According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, citing U.S. officials, Blinken was surprised by Netanyahu’s inclusion of political considerations in the detainee issue, with Blinken committed to their return even more than Netanyahu.
Protests in Israel
Meanwhile, the families of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza closed the main Menachem Begin Street leading to the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, holding up a massive banner demanding a prisoner exchange deal.
Protesters also displayed banners stating that the failure to reach a deal means a death sentence for their detained sons in the sector. On the other hand, thousands of right-wing Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem demanding the government not to make a deal with Hamas for the prisoner exchange, and to continue fighting in Gaza until achieving the declared Israeli objectives of the war.
It is estimated that there are around 136 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, while at least 8,800 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons. Last Wednesday, Hamas agreed to the Paris framework presented to them last week, adding a supplement with a plan consisting of 3 stages, each lasting 45 days, during which there would be a complete cessation of military operations from both sides, exchange of prisoners, and bodies.
