According to Israeli officials, two parallel efforts are underway as Israel tries to move toward a deal with Hamas that would allow the release of hostages in Gaza.
Mossad Director David Barnea has pushed for a comprehensive agreement that would end both the war in Gaza and the Israeli army’s campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as the release of all Israeli hostages, an Israeli official told the Times of Israel.
At a Security Cabinet meeting Sunday evening, ministers heard the first details of a proposal that would offer Hamas a two-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of five hostages, the Hamas website reported. Ynet news.
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The Israeli official said the plan was discussed earlier Sunday by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar in Cairo with Egyptian officials.
The Cabinet meeting took place days after IDF troops killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Rafah. The terrorist leader had been described by Israeli and American officials as the main obstacle to progress in the talks.
“He blocks everything or doesn’t respond,” an Israeli official told Times of Israel before Sinwar was eliminated.
Ronen Bar (left), head of the Shin Bet internal security service, speaks with Mossad chief David Barnea during the annual Holocaust commemoration ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, May 5, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
The same official said Sunday evening that it was “still too early” to see tangible progress following Sinwar’s death.
“We are definitely trying to start the conversation around a new agreement on the release of the hostages,” said the first official cited.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel and other Middle East countries on Tuesday to press for the release of hostages and an end to the fighting. U.S. officials called Sinwar’s death “an opportunity” for a negotiated ceasefire and hostage deal.
He will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at midday on Tuesday, Netanyahu’s office said.
A young Palestinian holds up a portrait of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah, October 18, 2024. (John Wessels/AFP)
Despite Israeli and international pressure for a deal, ministers at Sunday night’s six-hour Cabinet meeting heard from Israeli negotiators that Hamas’ demands had not changed following the Sinwar’s assassination, according to Army Radio.
This could, however, change once Hamas’ new leadership emerges. But a Hamas statement released late in the evening indicated that for the moment, Hamas would be led by a committee.
Reciprocal strikes
The Security Cabinet meeting also discussed in detail Israel’s expected response to Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack.
“We assume that this will be part of a process of reciprocal strikes between Israel and Iran,” said the first Israeli official cited.
An Israeli soldier shows components of Iranian ballistic missiles that were fired at Israel, during a government-organized journalists’ visit to a base in southern Israel, October 9, 2024. (AP/Maya Alleruzzo)
On Sunday evening, the Cabinet did not vote to give Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant the authority to decide the timing of an attack on Iran, reported Yedioth Ahronoth.
The two ministers want to green light Israel’s response to a last-minute Iranian ballistic missile attack, as was the case for the strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at the end of September , according to the newspaper.
Such votes can be made in just a few minutes by telephone.
Israeli security forces stand guard near a barrier on a street leading to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea, October 19, 2024, after a drone was launched towards his residence from Lebanon. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)
According to the Yediothministers expressed frustration over the “weak response” to the drone attack on Netanyahu’s home last week, which they believe was approved by Iran. Members of the security services responded that they were only carrying out directives from the political level.
The top Israeli official said the attack on Iran would not be affected by the drone attack on the prime minister’s house in Caesarea, but that there would be a meaningful response to the incident.
Army Radio also reported that the ministers discussed how to advance humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, in light of a letter from the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense warning of potential disruptions to some arms transfers if more aid is not allowed into the Gaza Strip.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (unseen) during a meeting at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Secretary of State American Antony Blinken is on the right. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe, Pool)
Last week, Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer that Israel had one month to make significant improvements to the humanitarian situation in the Strip. Gaza, under penalty of compromising the continued supply of American weapons.
The United States is pushing for hundreds of additional aid trucks per day to be allowed into the Gaza Strip and is concerned about Israeli legislation that would ban UNRWA from operating in Israel.
In July, the Knesset approved on first reading three bills aimed at closing the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
According to Ynet, the Foreign Ministry presented the dangers of adopting the UNRWA legislation, supported by 100 MPs. One of these dangers is that Israel will be seen as violating the United Nations charter and could be excluded.
Ministers expressed frustration that the dangers were not clearly laid out before the legislation began to be considered by the Knesset.
