Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unilaterally delayed and backtracked on agreed-upon outlines for the release of hostages without consulting the cabinet, according to Israeli media sources on Wednesday.
In recent days, the political leadership in Israel discussed potential conditions for a new and proactive negotiation that could eventually lead to a hostage deal. The negotiations were expected to be pushed forward by a mediator.
However, Netanyahu delayed the talks and increased the demands that had been agreed upon, according to reports.
Discussions over the conditions were held with political echelon leaders, namely Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot. These discussions eventually brought about agreed-upon conditions that would guide the advancement of negotiations, which would later lead to a deal with Hamas when the political leadership had already reached conclusions about what Israel could give as part of that deal.
Without any warning
However, a few days after the conclusion of discussions in the war cabinet, and after the conditions that would guide Israel in the current course of action were agreed upon, Netanyahu delayed the outline and increased the demands without coordinating with the ministers of the war cabinet.
According to reports, the ministers involved in the discussions found out about this later, and some of them even confronted the prime minister to express their anger.
Sources within the government said that Netanyahu is “missing out on an opportunity to advance a hostage release deal.”
On the other hand, political sources said that “they are still working on an Israeli outline; It has not been stopped.”
Yair Lapid weighs in on the situation
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid commented on these developments, stating, “The reports about the defense minister’s separation from security decisions that affect the continuation of the fighting and the lives of the hostages are further evidence that Israel has an incompetent prime minister with an incompetent government. Israel needs a change now.”
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