clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Israel officials accuse Netanyahu of obstructing prisoner swap deal

July 9, 2024 at 11:22 am

Thousands holding banners and Israeli flags gather during a demonstration to demand a hostage swap deal with Gaza and the dismissal of the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 22, 2024. [Mostafa Alkharouf – Anadolu Agency]

Israeli officials involved in talks to conclude a prisoner swap deal with Hamas said yesterday they were “surprised” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s terms for such a deal, claiming the “new terms” pose difficulties for talks with Egypt regarding the future of the Philadelphi Corridor following the Israeli invasion of Rafah.

The Ynet website quoted a security official as saying that Netanyahu issued his conditions for the deal in order to obstruct the talks with Egypt and harm the possibility of a prisoner exchange deal.

“This behaviour is not appropriate and will harm the prospects of returning the kidnapped people home,” he added.

“There is also the issue of timing. If you issued the statement [about talks conditions] before the start of the deliberations in [Netanyahu’s] office, why were the deliberations being held?” he asked.

An Israeli security delegation headed to Cairo yesterday headed by the Shin Bet chief, Ronen Bar, together with Defence Ministry’s Political-Military Director, Dror Shalom, the military’s Strategic Director, Eliezer Toledano, and Coordinator for Government activities in the Occupied Territories Ghassan Alian.

READ: Overwhelming majority backs hostage exchange with Hamas: Israeli president

The talks in Cairo will address the future of the Rafah border crossing, and Israel is expected to request the construction of an “underground obstacle” at the Philadelphi Corridor, with the aim of preventing the transfer of weapons to the Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Netanyahu claimed his “firm insistence against the attempt to stop the Israeli army’s operation in Rafah is what forced Hamas to enter negotiations.”

The statement added that Netanyahu “continues to strongly insist on the principles agreed upon by Israel, namely; 1. Any deal will allow Israel to return to fighting until all the war objectives are achieved; 2. He will not allow the smuggling of weapons from Egypt to the Gaza border; 3. He will not allow the return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip; 4. Israel will maximise the number of living abductees who will be returned from Hamas captivity.”