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Landmark Hostage Deal Inked in Doha: Israel, Hamas, US, & Qatar Seal Agreement
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Early Friday morning, representatives from Israel, Hamas, the United States, and Qatar officially signed a pivotal hostage deal in Doha, signaling a potential turning point in the ongoing crisis. According to a report at Israel National News (INN), the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the agreements for the release of hostages had been reached, following intense negotiations. The Security Cabinet and the broader government are expected to convene later on Friday to discuss and approve the deal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude toward the negotiating team and all parties who facilitated the agreement, emphasizing the state’s unwavering commitment to securing the release of hostages, both living and deceased. The INN report highlighted Netanyahu’s directive to the Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing to prepare for the return of the hostages to Israel. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office called attention to Israel’s broader war objectives, which include ensuring the safe return of all hostages.
Diplomatic sources cited by INN indicated that Prime Minister Netanyahu had refused certain demands from Hamas that deviated from the established understandings during negotiations. Specifically, Netanyahu stood firm against altering troop deployments in the Philadelphi Corridor, a contentious area along the Gaza-Egypt border. This steadfast approach, according to the source, contributed to the finalization of the agreement. Nevertheless, Netanyahu remains cautious and has deferred convening the Security Cabinet and government until all details are firmly resolved.
The proposed deal has elicited sharp political criticism within Israel. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced on Thursday that if the Cabinet approves the agreement, he and his Otzma Yehudit party would resign from the government. Labeling the deal as “reckless,” Ben Gvir pointed to celebrations among Hamas supporters and Palestinians in Gaza and Judea and Samaria as evidence of the cleat cut Israeli surrender.
“When you see the jubilation of Hamas supporter MK Ayman Odeh and the dancing in Gaza, you understand which side is surrendering in this deal,” Ben Gvir stated to INN. He called on members of the Religious Zionist party and Likud to join him in opposing the agreement to prevent what he described as a “reckless surrender deal.”
As the deal awaits final approval, it has brought into sharp focus the delicate balance between Israel’s strategic objectives and the political unity of its government. INN also reported that the upcoming Security Cabinet meeting will be critical in determining the trajectory of this controversial agreement, and the potential fallout from Ben Gvir’s threatened resignation adds another layer of complexity.
