Israeli official says pressure on Hamas, not compromise, will free hostages

In addition to demanding a permanent ceasefire for the release of hostages, Hamas would require Israel to release 1,500 prisoners, including those serving life sentences for murdering Israelis. 

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

An Israeli official says Israel will not give Hamas a counteroffer after rejecting their version of the framework Paris hostage deal that would demand a permanent ceasefire.

Instead, only pressure on the terror group would secure the release of hostages, according to the official.

In response to a hostage release deal negotiated in Paris between the US, Qatar, Egypt and Israel, Hamas made additional terms, including a four and a half month pause in fighting leading to a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of IDF troops from the Gaza Strip and the release of 1,500 Palestinian prisoners, many of them serving life sentences for murdering Israelis.

In the absence of a counteroffer, one Israeli official explained, “The main target now is to create pressure from the Americans and other countries on Qatar, and from there on Hamas, in addition to the military pressure, to bring them down from their delusional demands.”

They added, “Israel will continue doing everything in its power to reach a deal, but the principle that we will not stop the fighting until all the goals of the war are achieved remains in effect.”

“For now, all that is left to do is to apply pressure.”

Egypt tried to persuade Israel to meet in Cairo with Hamas representatives, but Israel refused, given Hamas’ current terms which Netanyahu described as “delusional.”

US President Joe Biden conceded that Hamas’ demands were “a little over the top.”

On Thursday, Netanyahu met with fellow war cabinet ministers Benny Gantz and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at military headquarters in Tel Aviv followed by a summit with his war cabinet to discuss negotiations.

Netanyahu is experiencing pressure from hostage families to take any step needed to release the remaining captives in Gaza.

However, in a press conference, Netanyahu said that Israel insists on nothing less than “total victory over Hamas.”

According to one poll, 40% of Israelis said that the government should agree to free hostages even if extreme concessions were required, with 60% supporting a strategy to eliminate Hamas and apply military pressure to secure the release of captives in Gaza.