FALCON POWERS – Israeli media reported today, Saturday, that the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that there is no security reason preventing the conclusion of a prisoner swap deal with Hamas.
Channel 12 reported, citing sources, that “in a closed-door meeting, Gallant told Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying: ‘There will be no agreement on the terms you proposed, and you are setting considerations that are not in the country’s interest.'”
Meanwhile, the channel quoted Netanyahu, during those closed-door meetings held a few days ago, as saying that “pressure must be exerted on Yahya al-Sinwar, the head of Hamas’ political bureau in the Gaza Strip, on the pretext that this pressure is what will force him to release the detainees.”
In a related context, a high-level Israeli delegation arrived in Egypt, including the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, as well as the Coordinator of Government Activities. The Israeli website “Walla” mentioned that “the Israeli delegation will discuss with the head of Egyptian intelligence and security officials the security arrangements on the Philadelphi axis and the Rafah crossing,” noting that “the departure of the Israeli delegation from Cairo was a result of American pressure to continue the prisoner swap negotiations.”
Arab sources had previously said that “Israel is seeking to introduce amendments to a plan aimed at reaching a truce in Gaza and releasing the detainees held by Hamas.”
The sources (a Western official, a Palestinian source, and two Egyptian sources) said that “Israel believes that Palestinian displaced persons should be screened upon their return to northern Gaza Strip when the ceasefire is in place, as they fear that these residents will support Hamas fighters, who are still entrenched there,” according to Western reports.
