Netanyahu Rejects Hostage Deal Deal Drawn Up By Mossad, Shin Bet, and IDF

Hostage deal talks ended in Egypt without any breakthrough as Netanyahu sent Israeli officials only to 'listen'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected an outline for a potential hostage deal with Hamas that was drawn up by Israel’s Mossad spy agency, the Shin Bet security agency, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

According to The Times of Israel, the proposal was put together by Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, an IDF officer in charge of intelligence efforts to find Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Details of the outline are unclear, but it was likely a response to Hamas’s recent counteroffer for a 135-day truce to facilitate the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and a permanent ceasefire.

The proposal was discussed with Netanyahu several times, including during a prepatory meeting for hostage deal talks in Egypt that were held on Tuesday and attended by Barnea, CIA chief William Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and Egyptian officials.

The Times report said Netanyahu declined to present the new outline for a hostage deal at the talks and told Barnea to “only listen” and not put forward any new ideas. Netanyahu publicly rejected Hamas’s latest offer and said “total victory” was the only option for Israel, and he is now preparing an invasion of Rafah.

According to President Biden, the deal that’s on the table involves a six-week truce, but it’s unclear if Hamas is receptive to the idea. A Hamas official speaking to AFP signaled the Palestinian group was still looking for a permanent ceasefire, saying Hamas was awaiting the outcome of the Cairo talks and was “open to discussing any initiative that achieves an end to aggression and war.”

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.