Israel
Ben-Gvir threatens to topple government over hostage deal
Lapid pledged that his Yesh Atid Party would give complete support to an agreement with Hamas
January 30, 2024 13:57
By, JC Reporter
1 min read
Lapid pledged that his Yesh Atid Party would give complete support to an agreement with Hamas
January 30, 2024 13:57ByJC Reporter, JC Reporter
(JNS) Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to bring down the government if it reaches a "reckless" hostage deal with Hamas.
His tweet came amid apparent progress on an agreement to free the 136 captives remaining in Gaza whom the terrorist group abducted during its Oct. 7 attack on the northwestern Negev.
In an apparent response to Ben-Gvir's tweet, opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X that his Yesh Atid Party and its 24 Knesset members would give the government full backing for a deal to free the hostages.
"In the last 116 days, I met with dozens of families of abductees. I promised them and I repeat my promise: We will give the government a safety net for any deal that will return the abductees to their homes and families. This is our commitment to the abductees and their families, this is our commitment," Lapid wrote in a lengthy series of tweets.
Qatar-based Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Tuesday that the terrorist group would study a proposal received from negotiations between the interested parties in Paris on Sunday, adding that he would visit Cairo for talks on the initiative.
Haniyeh said that the priority for Hamas is an end to Israel's military offensive in Gaza and a withdrawal of all troops from the coastal enclave. The demand to end the war runs counter to Israel's stated goal of destroying the terrorist group.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the Paris meeting was "defined as constructive.” However, “there are still significant gaps which the sides will continue to discuss at additional mutual meetings to be held this week.”
Mossad chief David Barnea, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) Director Ronen Bar and Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, the Israel Defense Forces’ point man for hostage negotiations, met with Qatari and Egyptian mediators at the Paris talks.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Abbas Kamel, head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, and CIA Director William Burns also participated in the meeting.
The New York Times reported on Saturday that discussions are currently focused on a ceasefire for a period of up to two months in exchange for the staged release of more than 100 hostages. In addition to pausing its military campaign against Hamas, Israel would have to agree to commute the prison sentences of an unspecified number of Palestinian terrorists.
According to Saudi-owned Al-Hadath TV, the parties reached a “breakthrough” on Sunday for a two-month ceasefire-for-hostages deal, under which Israel reportedly also agreed to allow more aid into the Gaza Strip.