Israel’s finance minister believes it would be a “humiliating surrender” if Netanyahu accepts the ceasefire offer.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) speaks with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during the weekly cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Security on Sunday, January 7, 2024 in Tel Aviv. (From AP)
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday threatened to overthrow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government if he calls off plans to invade the southern city of Rafah and accepts a new Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. did.
“If you raise the white flag and immediately revoke the order to conquer Rafah, complete the mission of destroying Hamas and restoring peace to the population of southern Israel and all Israeli citizens, and return our abducted brothers and sisters in captivity, If you decide to do so, the government you lead will have no right to exist once you are held hostage in their homes,” Smotrich wrote to X.
The minister believed it would be a “humiliating surrender” if Netanyahu accepted the ceasefire offer.
If Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party leaves the ruling coalition, Netanyahu’s government will rely on opposition leader Benny Gantz, head of the centrist National Unity Party, to remain in power.
Israel’s new proposal for a possible prisoner-of-war deal with Hamas includes a “willingness” to discuss “the restoration of sustainable peace” in the Gaza Strip after the initial release of prisoners on humanitarian grounds Axios reported this, citing Israeli officials.
According to Axios, this is the first time since October 7, when Israeli leaders indicated they would discuss halting the invasion of Gaza as part of the POW agreement negotiations. Hamas has consistently made ending the war a focus of his proposals during negotiations in recent months.
A group of Egyptian intelligence officials visited Israel on Friday to consult with representatives of Shin Bet, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and Mossad regarding prisoner of war files and a possible Israeli military invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
After the talks concluded, Israeli officials indicated that the Egyptian side had presented Hamas with a new proposal that showed “Israel is willing to make further significant concessions,” the news site said. Hamas confirmed on Friday night that he had received the proposal and said he would consider it before responding.
Axios, citing Israeli officials, said the new proposal takes into account Hamas’ previously expressed positions and the potential conditions that both Israel and Egypt believe the Palestinian resistance could accept. reported that it was jointly prepared by the Egyptian intelligence mission and the Israeli negotiation team. transaction.
Israeli officials said the new proposal addresses many of Hamas’ demands, including the “full return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza” and the withdrawal of IOF’s presence from the corridor that divides the Gaza Strip. he claimed.
Additionally, Axios said the proposal included a “willingness to discuss the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire” as part of the second phase of the agreement, following the humanitarian release of prisoners held by Hamas. .
Read more: Israel’s invasion of Rafah means new Nakba: Abbas
