Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dissolve the government if the PM agrees on a cessation of the war in Gaza or a political settlement.
Speaking with i24NEWS on Sunday night, the Minister said, “We must not go for an agreement with Hamas, only wage a campaign against them. If the war stops - I will not be in the government.”
The far-right politician then spoke of Hamas, saying, “We understand their intentions. They seek our destruction because we are the Jewish state.”
Ben-Gvir also said, “The Prime Minister understands well that my presence hinges on ongoing conflict. I have stated regarding Gaza, ‘If there’s no conflict, I’m out,’ and the same applies to the north. Conflict must persist in the north. This isn’t a threat to the Prime Minister; it’s a necessity because you don’t negotiate with Nazis.”
The Minister was commenting on the US attempt to push the recent exchange of hostages deal between Israel and Hamas.
New Formula
US President Joe Biden's administration has put forward a new proposal that focuses on amending Clause 8 of the hostage-truce deal, concerning the terms of the exchange of hostages and ceasefire.
This part of the agreement has to do with the negotiations that are supposed to start between Israel and Hamas during the implementation of the first stage of the deal in order to set the exact conditions for the second stage of the deal, which includes reaching sustainable calm in Gaza.
Hamas reportedly wants talks during the agreement’s first phase to address only how many and which Palestinian prisoners will be released in return for the living male hostages. Israel, on the other hand, also wants to discuss the demilitarization of Gaza, among other matters.
Earlier, sources told Israeli and US media outlets that US officials re-worded Clause 8 of the proposed hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in an effort to reach an agreement. They are working together with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to push Hamas accept the new proposal.
Channel 12 news reports that the US effort to revive Israel-Hamas hostage-ceasefire efforts is now focused on a single word in Clause 8 of the Israeli proposal.
High-ranking Israeli sources said the current focus of US efforts pertains to Clause 8 of the ceasefire proposal, which deals with negotiations between Israel and Hamas during the first stage of the deal that set the conditions for the subsequent stage.
According to the TV news report, Clause 8 reads: “No later than day 16 [of phase one], the commencement of indirect negotiations between the two sides to agree on the conditions for implementing stage two of this agreement, including those relating to the keys for the exchange of hostages and prisoners (soldiers and remaining men).”
The report said the US suggested using the term “only” instead of the word “including,” that specifies that only the so-called keys for the exchange of hostages and security prisoners would be under negotiation and not any other conditions.
The idea aims to persuade Hamas to accept the proposal.
No Change
Last Sunday, Netanyahu said that regarding the sacred mission of freeing our hostages, “There is no change in Israel's position on the release outline that President Biden has welcomed.”
“Today everyone knows a simple truth,” the PM said, “Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of our hostages.”
He noted that “a combination of political and military pressure — above all, military pressure” will bring all 120 hostages in Gaza back.
The PM added, “I repeat: there is no substitute for victory. Our warriors did not fall in vain. We will not end the war until we achieve all our goals.”
Hamas believes that Netanyahu is stalling in the hope that Donald Trump will be elected US President next November.
A Hamas source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Movement is aware of the Israeli strategy and is seeking “an unambiguous agreement that puts an end to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip once and for all.”
“Everything is negotiable and can be agreed upon. There are no major gaps,” the source said. “But two issues cannot be compromised: A definite commitment to a ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip, including Rafah and the Rafah crossing.”
