Right-wing minister criticizes
Israel has to pay dearly for hostage deal with Hamas
November 21, 2023, 2:28 p.m
The terrorist organization Hamas has been holding hundreds of people under its control for weeks. In return for the release, Israel should release significantly more Palestinians from prison. Compared to the last hostage exchange with Hamas, this actually seems like a good deal.
According to media reports, the Islamist Hamas has announced details of a possible hostage deal with Israel. The agreement provides for the release of 50 hostages, including foreigners, and a five-day break in fighting in the Gaza Strip, reported the Israeli news site “Ynet” and local media in the coastal strip, citing Hamas. In return, Israel should release 300 female and underage Palestinian prisoners from prisons.
According to the information, the civilians held in the Gaza Strip are to be released gradually – ten people every day. According to Palestinian reports, the same applies to Palestinian prisoners. As a result, Israel will release 30 of them every day. The deal reportedly also allows 300 trucks carrying food, medical supplies and fuel to enter the Gaza Strip. Hamas said it had agreed to the agreement. Israel’s government initially did not want to comment on the reports.
A member of the Hamas politburo had previously told Al-Arabi television that they had moved closer to an agreement on the release of hostages and a pause in fighting, according to the official Hamas Telegram channel. Hamas media coordinator Taher al-Nunu said that Hamas leader Ismail Haniya had submitted a response to the possible deal to mediator Qatar. However, he did not want to give any details about the deal.
Police Minister: “Do you remember…”
Israel’s right-wing extremist Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sharply criticized a possible deal with Hamas for the release. Ben-Gvir said on the Israeli television channel Channel 14 that he was very worried that a possible agreement was currently being discussed. He was worried that the State of Israel could make a “very, very, very big mistake” with such a deal. Hamas kidnapped around 240 people in the Gaza Strip and killed 1,200 people in its unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th.
Ben-Gvir recalled the so-called Shalit deal in 2011. At that time, more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners – including the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Jihia al-Sinwar – came in return for the Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hamas for five years Gilad Shalit free. “You remember, we freed Gilad Shalit and let out Sinwar and his friends – and brought this suffering upon us,” said Ben-Gvir. The right-wing extremist police and security minister is not a member of the Israeli war cabinet.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Israel and Hamas to release hostages in the Gaza Strip are in full swing. According to media reports, there are increasing signs that a deal is imminent.