Latest news with #hostageDeal
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BarEhud Barak: Israel Must Back Trump's Gaza Deal
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the White House on April 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Credit - Alex Wong—Getty Images In the coming few days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face a defining choice between a politically motivated "war of deception" in Gaza and a deal to release all hostages while ending the war. He must choose between his extreme-right ministers—Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich—or aligning with Donald Trump. There is no symmetry here. Accepting a hostage deal, ending the war, and working with Trump and free world leaders, won't be effortless. Any choice requires detailed negotiations and compromises. But this path is far superior to any realistic alternative. Based on the achievements of the Israel Defense Forces—including damage to Hamas, weakening Hezbollah, destroying Syria's military arsenal during Assad's collapse, and demonstrating Israel's capability to strike deep into Iran—Israeli leadership could, from a position of strength, pursue releasing all hostages simultaneously, halt this senseless war, end the humanitarian crisis, and uproot Hamas from power. This would enable Israel, though belatedly, to join Trump's vision of a New Middle East, including normalization with Saudi Arabia, regional deployment to tackle the Iranian challenge, and participation in the trade corridor project from India through the Gulf to Europe. Choosing a "war of deception" instead—where misleading propaganda presents political warfare as serving Israel's security—would be a grave mistake. It's highly doubtful that continuing the war could produce results different from previous Gaza rounds over the past 20 months. But it would certainly constitute a death sentence for some or most living hostages and deepen the diplomatic tsunami and International Criminal Court claims Israel already faces. This approach might make sense if it could achieve "total victory" over Hamas, but that won't happen. When this new war inevitably halts—under diplomatic pressure, humanitarian crisis, battlefield events, or domestic political developments—we would find ourselves in precisely the same situation as today. To understand, examine recent history. The October 7th barbaric attack created a compelling imperative for Israel to ensure Hamas could never again reign over Gaza or threaten Israel from there. The question was how to achieve this goal. Since Ben-Gurion, Israel has followed four strategic maxims: wars should be aggressive, fought on enemy territory, ended quickly to translate battlefield results into diplomatic and political realities while maintaining international legitimacy, and—extremely important—never lose the moral high ground. That's how we won in 1967 in six days and 1973 in three weeks. Netanyahu has betrayed almost all these principles. Read More: The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Was Never Going to Last Another strategic maxim, from Clausewitz to Kissinger, holds that war must have a clearly defined, operationally feasible political purpose. As the Roman saying goes: "If you don't know which port you want to reach, no wind will take you there." This maxim was deliberately ignored. Netanyahu has blocked any discussion of this issue since October 7th, 2023. It was clear to any serious observer that Hamas suffered major military blows daily, losing most weapons systems and leadership figures since October 7th. However, since any Hamas group or individual can easily "disappear" within minutes, hiding among the Strip's 2 million civilians and emerging from tunnels or building windows to attack Israelis, their absolute elimination remains a Sisyphean task. Even after 58 years in the West Bank, we never fully eliminated Hamas' presence in Jenin or Tulkarm. The only way to ensure Hamas cannot reign over Gaza and threaten Israel is by replacing it with another governing entity legitimate to the international community, Arab neighbors like Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, and Palestinians themselves. Practically, this means a temporary inter-Arab force backed by the Arab League, potentially supported by UN Security Council resolution, funded by Saudi Arabia and UAE, with a technocratic government overseeing Palestinian bureaucracy and a new, non-Hamas security body trained by the inter-Arab force under U.S. supervision. Israel would present only two conditions: no Hamas military branch member could participate in the new entity's organs, and the IDF, initially deployed to the Strip's perimeter, would withdraw to the border only after all pre-agreed security benchmarks are met. This plan, easily implementable a year ago, and appearing to save Gaza and Gazans from further destruction, is harder now, because it could be interpreted as saving Israel from sinking into Gazan mud. But the plan remains viable despite the Israeli government's refusal to consider it. Since this is the only practical "day after" plan, there's no sense sacrificing hostages' lives or endangering Israeli troops in pointless warfare. Who can look into the eyes of future bereaved parents, newly widowed spouses, new orphans, disabled and traumatized soldiers, and claim with clear conscience that everything was done to prevent loss, or that it had justification? As long as Israel rejects hostage release and war's end, the risk increases of international initiatives, including Arab neighbors calling for Israel boycotts and steps toward recognition of a Palestinian state by European countries—many of them stable friends of Israel. Read More: I Am a Former Hamas Hostage. Here's My Message to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu Permanent occupation of the Gaza Strip, population transfer of 2 million Palestinians, and Israeli resettlement on the that land are base and delusional visions that would backfire and accelerate confrontation with the world. Why is Netanyahu, an intelligent, experienced, savvy politician, failing? The answer isn't simple. Netanyahu has ruled since 2015 through an alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties who don't serve in the army and care only about sectoral needs, and since January 2023 added ultra-right zealots believing Gaza resettlement and Palestinian transfer are heavenly orders. He's caught in a dilemma: 80% of the public sees him as primarily responsible for the country's worst day, 60% believe he should resign. A heavy majority perceives his judicial reform, initiated immediately after January 2023 elections, as a "judicial coup d'état"—an attempt to castrate the legislative branch and demolish Supreme Court independence. Many believe the aim of his blatant attack on democracy is to escape his bribery, fraud, and breach of trust court case. For him, any pause in the war—even 60 days, certainly longer—would immediately bring reckoning and accountability: accelerated court proceedings; demands for national inquiry committee investigating October 7th, and events before, during and after; coalition meltdown; and probable disgraced ejection from public life. I believe Netanyahu genuinely wants all hostages home. But when this clashes with immediate threats to his political survival, he prefers leaving them in Gaza. He has already torpedoed several hostage deal opportunities, and seems to be doing it once again over the weekend, by resisting U.S. guarantee to Hamas for an end to the war in exchange for release of all hostages and entering, together with the Trump Administration, into Trump's New Middle East Order (to include the replacement of Hamas, described above). Netanyahu sticks to his eternal war in order to avoid a pause in fighting, which might lead to the end of his political career. This behavior is unacceptable to Israel and Israelis. We are, as former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak wrote years ago, 'defending democracy' that "should be capable of defending itself against those who try to use the very freedoms and tools it provides to destroy it from within." We're led by someone who lost his strategic and moral compass, dragging the nation into war motivated by personal political interests against our security and common future. Israel urgently needs new, sober leadership with clear realistic vision and self-confidence—leadership capable of reading our people's soul, understanding partners' and rivals' minds, and above all, having courage to make decisions and power to implement them. The world will pass judgment. But the burden of bringing Israel back on track is ours—Israeli citizens. I believe we will overcome. This war will end soon, and Israel's worst ever government will be replaced by a responsible, effective one. A long path of repair must follow. Contact us at letters@
LBCI
27-05-2025
- General
- LBCI
Palestinian official says Hamas agrees to Gaza proposal, Israel dismisses it
A Palestinian official said on Monday that Hamas has agreed to a proposal by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff for a Gaza ceasefire, only for an Israeli official to deny that the proposal was Washington's and add that no Israeli government could accept it. Witkoff also rejected the notion that Hamas had accepted his offer for a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, telling Reuters that what he had seen was "completely unacceptable" and the proposal being discussed was not the same as his. The Palestinian official, who is close to Hamas, had told Reuters that the proposal would see the release of 10 hostages and a 70-day ceasefire and was received by Hamas through mediators. "The proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in two groups in return for a 70-day ceasefire and a partial withdrawal from the Gaza Strip," the source said. It also included the release of several Palestinian prisoners by Israel, including hundreds serving lengthy prison terms. An Israeli official dismissed the proposal, saying no responsible government could accept such an agreement and rejecting the assertion that the deal matched one proposed by Witkoff. Reuters
LBCI
19-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Despite US pressure for hostage deal, Israel's Gaza offensive complicates talks
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Mariella Succar Despite intensive efforts and U.S. pressure to reach a revised hostage deal with Hamas, Israel's launch of the 'Operation Gideon's Chariots' in Gaza—and its warning to residents of Khan Younis to evacuate their homes—has further complicated the situation. The updated proposal, presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly includes the release of ten hostages and the remains of others on the first day of the deal, in exchange for a two-month ceasefire. The truce would serve as a window for negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire. However, Israel has so far refused to commit to refraining from resuming the war. According to available information, Witkoff is leading the indirect negotiations with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer on one side, and Hamas on the other. This time, the mediation is being conducted through Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who played a key role in securing the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander last week. Netanyahu has insisted that any talks on ending the war must be contingent on Hamas disarming and its leadership leaving Gaza—conditions the group has previously rejected. Amid the ongoing escalation and diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting, Washington succeeded in pressuring Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Israeli cabinet approved the decision in a meeting that lasted until midnight on Monday, as Palestinians in the enclave approached famine conditions.
LBCI
13-05-2025
- Business
- LBCI
New US proposal offers hostage release, ceasefire, and post-war vision for Gaza
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Three days remain for efforts to reach a hostage deal and the launch of Israel's "Gideon Chariots" operation in Gaza, as a new diplomatic initiative gains traction, centering on ending the war and redrawing the regional landscape. The turning point came with the arrival of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Tel Aviv, where he presented Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a comprehensive proposal aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire, securing the release of all hostages, and outlining a post-war plan for Gaza. According to Witkoff, the U.S. believes the proposal could push Hamas to show flexibility and agree to terms that would end the war. The plan sets a tight deadline, aligned with the conclusion of President Donald Trump's tour of the Middle East, which Washington and Tel Aviv are treating as a window for progress. If an agreement is not reached by then, a resumption of full-scale military operations in Gaza remains on the table. Sources close to Netanyahu suggest the U.S. would not object to renewing fighting if negotiations fail. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is among those demanding a clear American green light to resume hostilities before sending an Israeli delegation to the next round of talks in Doha. However, other Israeli officials remain skeptical about Washington's willingness to support further escalation, especially amid signals from Trump favoring diplomacy and regional deals over renewed conflict. That perception was reinforced by Witkoff's meeting with the families of Israeli hostages, including Edan Alexander, the US-Israeli soldier recently freed by Hamas as a goodwill gesture, during which the U.S. envoy pledged to intensify efforts toward a broad agreement.
