Israeli Broadcasting Corporation Authority: The Israeli cabinet gave an opportunity to negotiate the release of prisoners and a ceasefire in Gaza before taking new escalatory steps
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday that the Israeli Security Cabinet decided to give a chance to negotiations regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement on a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in Gaza, before taking any escalatory steps in the Strip.
Israeli Broadcasting Corporation Authority quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying, “The cabinet decided to give negotiations a chance before taking any new escalatory steps”.
According to the Israeli official, “there is currently pressure being exerted on Hamas by several international parties to accept US mediator Steve Witkoff’s proposal to reach a prisoner exchange deal and a long-term ceasefire”.
The Israeli official’s remarks come despite Hamas leader Khalil al Hayya’s announcement a few days ago that Hamas was ready to immediately begin negotiations on a comprehensive package to release Israeli prisoners in one go, in exchange for an end to the genocide and a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israel has shown intransigence regarding engaging in negotiations.
The Israeli cabinet made the decision, revealed by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, during a meeting held Tuesday evening to decide the future of the Israeli war that has been perpetrating in the Gaza Strip for more than a year and a half.
The meeting was held amid divergent views among the ministers, with some calling for a comprehensive war and military escalation, and others supporting a gradual escalation to improve the terms of negotiations with Hamas and recover the Israeli prisoners from the Gaza Strip, according to the same source.
