Israeli Official Confirms Netanyahu's Government Has Placed Itself in Crisis: Prisoner Swap with Hamas on Verge of Collapse

 Israeli Official Confirms Netanyahu's Government Has Placed Itself in Crisis: Prisoner Swap with Hamas on Verge of Collapse

A high-ranking Israeli official has revealed that the prisoner swap deal with Hamas is on the brink of collapse. The official stated that Israel is currently engaging in discussions with mediators and the United States in an attempt to resolve the crisis that arose after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu breached the prisoner exchange agreement and postponed the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners last Saturday.

According to the Israeli official, the deal is now on the verge of complete collapse. If a solution is not reached by Thursday, the exchange of the bodies of four Israeli prisoners and the release of Palestinian prisoners as previously agreed upon may not take place.

The official criticized the Israeli government, stating, "The government has thrown a stone into the well and is now trying to retrieve it." The official added, "Unfortunately, there are people in the government who are more concerned with the rituals that Hamas follows during the release of prisoners than focusing on retrieving the Israeli captives."

Netanyahu is reportedly seeking to negotiate with Hamas regarding the release of additional captives without adhering to the conditions of the second phase of the deal, which involves a ceasefire.

The Israeli official noted, "Hamas may agree to extend the agreement, but they will demand a lot and offer little." The official emphasized that Tel Aviv is prepared to pay a price to Hamas due to the government's reluctance to declare an end to the war, which complicates the negotiations further.

Meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that mediators are continuing their efforts to salvage the deal, but there is a significant lack of trust between the parties.

US President's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to arrive in the region on Wednesday in an attempt to bridge the gap between the parties.

According to the newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Hamas is willing to hand over the bodies of two Israeli prisoners without formal ceremonies, but demands the release of Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be freed on Saturday and doubling the number of prisoners to be released. However, an informed Israeli source denied this information, and Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mardawi also denied the reports, stating that there has been no change in Hamas' stance regarding the deal, and that the enemy must implement the agreement and release 600 prisoners as agreed upon.

: Israel, Hamas, prisoner swap, Netanyahu, crisis.

https://www.nezglo.com/egypts-ministry-of-interior-issues.

Published: 25.02.2025 | 00:48 GMT