Netanyahu’s Comments Pose Threat to Hostage/Cease-Fire Agreement, Report Finds

Concerns have been raised by some senior Israeli officials regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks on Israel’s objectives in the war against Hamas, backed by Iran, and how they could potentially harm a hostage/cease-fire deal.

Netanyahu publicly supported the deal announced by President Joe Biden on Monday, despite threats from his right-wing coalition partners Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionist Party to leave the government coalition if any agreement demanded an early end to the war.

The deal proposed by Biden, as reported by The Jerusalem Post, consists of three phases, with the release of all living hostages in the first two phases. The first phase, lasting six weeks, involves a temporary cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of IDF soldiers from populated areas in Gaza. Women, the elderly, ill, and infirmed would be released in this phase in exchange for a specific number of Palestinian security prisoners, while the remaining captives would be released in the second phase.

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has made significant efforts to secure the release of hostages while pursuing the main objective of eliminating Hamas, according to the Post.

He reiterated that Israel is committed to achieving both the return of the hostages and the destruction of Hamas, stating that this was part of the agreement reached unanimously in the war cabinet as presented by Biden.

According to a senior Israeli official speaking to Axios, Netanyahu’s statements are eroding the “constructive ambiguity” of the deal by highlighting the demands he will make during negotiations for Phase 2 before entering Phase 1.

The official explained that instead of maintaining ambiguity, Netanyahu’s remarks are prompting Hamas to seek clarification, making it more challenging to reach a deal. This is believed to be influenced by Netanyahu’s attempts to satisfy National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who lead Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionist Party, respectively, in order to prevent a coalition collapse.

The Prime Minister’s office did not comment on Axios’ request for a response.