Israel-Hamas talks - Gantz assures Netanyahu of support for ceasefire deal
Israeli opposition politician Benny Gantz has pledged to support Minister-President Benjamin Netanyahu if Israeli negotiators in upcoming indirect talks with Hamas reach a weapons truce and hostage exchange in the coming weeks. His National Unity party will fully support any reasonable agreement that leads to the return of the hostages held by Islamists, Gantz said in a phone call with Netanyahu, according to his office.
The talks, mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, have been stalled for a long time. However, a new round of negotiations is set to begin in the Qatari capital Doha in the coming days, after Hamas signaled flexibility on some points of a proposal put forward by Israel. Hamas is demanding an end to the war and wants to release a large number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention centers in exchange for the hostages.
In Israel, there is concern that Netanyahu, like in previous phases of negotiations, may refuse to approve a deal due to consideration for his ultra-religious and right-wing coalition partners. These partners oppose possible concessions, such as ending the war in Gaza before the complete destruction of Hamas, and threaten to withdraw from the coalition.
Netanyahu's fear of the government collapsing
Gantz's pledge to support Netanyahu in the event of a weapons truce and hostage agreement is an attempt to appease the prime minister if his coalition partners leave. However, a collapse of the government coalition would lead to elections sooner or later, in which Netanyahu's Likud party would not have good cards based on recent polls.
Gantz listened to the war cabinet, which was formed after the unprecedented Hamas massacre on October 7 of the previous year. Gantz and his allies left the war cabinet in June because Netanyahu refused to push forward plans for the post-war period in the Gaza Strip.
In the attack on southern Israel, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed 1,200 people and took approximately 250 hostages into the Gaza Strip. Israel suspects there are still approximately 120 hostages there, although some of them may no longer be alive.
- Benny Gantz, serving as the Opposition leader, has agreed to support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Israeli diplomacy in the forthcoming negotiations with Hamas leads to a weapons truce and hostage exchange in the Palestinian territories.
- The upcoming talks, facilitated by the USA, Egypt, and Qatar in Doha, gained momentum after Hamas showed flexibility regarding some provisions of Israel's proposal.
- Despite the renewed negotiations, there are concerns in Israel that Prime Minister Netanyahu might, as in previous phases, refuse to approve a deal due to pressure from his ultra-religious and right-wing coalition partners.
- These coalition partners, opposing potential concessions like an end to the war in Gaza before the complete destruction of Hamas, pose a threat to Netanyahu's coalition and its stability.
- In case of a government coalition collapse, Gantz's National Unity party's pledge to support Netanyahu could help neutralize the impact, potentially delaying the subsequent elections.
- Recalling the Hamas massacre of October 7, 20XX, which led to the creation of the war cabinet in Tel Aviv, Gantz actively listened to discussions and worked alongside Netanyahu, but eventually left due to disagreements over post-war plans in the Gaza Strip.
- In this destructive attack on southern Israel, terrorists affiliated with Hamas and other extremist groups took the lives of 1,200 individuals and kidnapped approximately 250 hostages, transporting them into the Gaza Strip.
- Until today, Israeli intelligence suspects that around 120 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip, although the fate of some may have already been tragic.
