Israeli defense chiefs will call on the security cabinet on Sunday to accept the current proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, Hebrew media reported on Friday.
The Israeli defense chiefs “will present an all-but united front to the security cabinet on Sunday, beseeching ministers to accept the current proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza over the government’s desired offensive in Gaza City,” The Times of Israeli cited Israeli Channel 12 as reporting on Friday.
The chiefs include Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Mossad Director David Barnea and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, the report said, noting that the stance of the acting chief of the Shin Bet was not clear.
Security chiefs will also question why Israel has not held a cabinet meeting to at least seriously consider the latest offer on the table — an offer Tel Aviv had itself recently approved.
The phased proposal crafted by Arab mediators that Hamas approved on August 18 envisions the release of 10 Israeli captives along with the bodies of 18 dead hostages in five batches over a 60-day ceasefire, during which the sides will hold talks on the terms of the release of the remaining hostages and a permanent end to the war.
“There is a deal on the table that Israel fought for. We must grasp the opportunity to bring hostages back alive and to use the ceasefire to reach an end to the fighting,” a senior security source told the network.
“Any other decision, based on the thought that Hamas will surrender if we enter Gaza [City], is a wild gamble on the lives of hostages and soldiers.”
The unnamed official added that multiple living hostages could have returned last week and been home safe by now had Israel accepted the deal as it had in the past.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Palestinian resistance group warned the Zionist occupation of Friday that the planned offensive to occupy Gaza City will subject the Israeli captives in the area to the “same risks” as the group’s fighters.
Abu Ubaida, Al-Qassam Spokesman, said combat conditions would increase the chances of capturing Israeli soldiers.
Later on Friday, fierce battles followed ambushes in Gaza between Al-Qassam fighters and Israeli occupation soldiers. Israeli media reported that an Israeli soldier was killed, 11 others injured and 4 soldiers were missing in Gaza City’s Zeitoun Neighborhood, amid fears that the missing soldiers were captured by Hamas.
Source: Israeli media (edited by Al-Manar)
