Benjamin Netanyahu, the head of the Israeli occupation government, has affirmed that the Israeli military will resume fighting in Gaza, even if a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza is reached.
This statement was made by Netanyahu during consultations regarding a prisoner exchange agreement conducted last week.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, Netanyahu stated on Monday evening, “If there is a deal (a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement), and I hope one will be achieved; Israel will return to the fight afterwards,” as reported by Arab48.
Netanyahu added, “There is no use in hiding this matter.”
He mentioned that the resumption of fighting after the agreement is to “complete (achieving) the objectives of the war.”
Netanyahu considers his stance as not discouraging the deal, but rather encouraging it, knowing that Hamas has consistently emphasized that it will not accept an agreement that does not ensure a cessation of the war on Gaza and a full withdrawal of the Israeli military from the sector.
Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation (“Kan 11”) reported that close associates of Netanyahu said on Monday, “Even if there is an agreement, Israel will return to the fight to complete the war objectives.”
Channel 12 also noted that sources within the Israeli negotiating team fear that Netanyahu’s statements might harm the potential agreement.
The channel quoted unnamed American sources stating, “A deal could be reached before (the elected U.S. President Donald) Trump takes office.”
On Friday, Hamas leader Osama Hamdan accused the occupation state of hindering a deal on prisoners, asserting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to rid himself of the issue by killing them.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hamdan stated that the occupation still refuses three main demands: a complete ceasefire, full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and providing maps for this withdrawal.
He noted that the latest round of negotiations had not led to any progress, despite the Israeli delegation including representatives from all security agencies and Netanyahu’s office, highlighting the flexibility shown by the movement in the negotiations.
Hamdan mentioned that his movement agreed in early July to a phased timeline for the Israeli withdrawal and accepted the proposed schedule.
He spoke about Hamas proposing a comprehensive initiative that includes agreeing on everything “in one package,” so that the process of exchange or withdrawal would not be divided, with a comprehensive ceasefire, complete withdrawal, and full exchange happening simultaneously, emphasizing that the movement clearly committed to three things: a ceasefire, complete withdrawal, and unconditional entry of aid into Gaza.
