An Israeli media report stated that the attack by a number of ministers on the terms of the new deal with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) – which according to informed sources includes an exchange of prisoners and efforts to cease fire in the Gaza Strip – was planned in advance.
Maariv newspaper reported – from unnamed sources – that the attack against this deal was planned before the cabinet meeting held yesterday, Sunday, adding that a number of ministers from the Likud Party – which leads the government – were asked to speak publicly in the media against the parameters of the deal, despite the fact that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads this party.
The sources explained that this did not mean that the ministers were asked to say things they disagreed with, but essentially they were asked to highlight and announce their position, while publicizing the attack on the deal at the Cabinet meeting well.
She pointed out that the Likud members of the government who opposed the deal were the Ministers of Economy Nir Barkat, Diaspora Affairs Minister Emhai Shikli, Foreign Affairs Minister Yisrael Katz, Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, Justice Yariv Levin, Education Yoav Kisch, and Transportation Miri Regev.
The Israeli newspaper quoted Levin as saying – during the cabinet meeting – that the number of prisoners scheduled to be released for each hostage is unacceptable, without details, considering that “it is also impossible to release them to the West Bank. We must find a solution to this,” according to the same source.
As for the Minister of Education, he said at the meeting, “This cannot be the deal. What was published in the media does not look good at all. It is disturbing.”
In turn, the Minister of Economy said, “The idea of a ceasefire day for every hostage is fictitious. In the previous round, they got a ceasefire day for every 10 hostages.”
Maariv did not explain the reasons for asking the ministers to attack the deal. While Israeli reports previously stated that the United States is pressing for the parties to accept this deal.
The deal includes the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons in exchange for Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, and a ceasefire in the Strip, according to unofficial reports and statements.
Qatar and Egypt are mediating between Israel and Hamas in order to complete this deal. On January 28, a meeting was held in the French capital, with the participation of Tel Aviv, Washington, Cairo and Doha, to discuss a prisoner exchange deal and stop the war in Gaza, which will take place in three stages, according to Palestinian and American sources.
Israel estimates that it has about 136 prisoners in Gaza, while it detains at least 8,800 Palestinians in its prisons, according to official sources from both parties, but there is no confirmation of the final number from both parties.
