Everything is political – either the hostages or the war – Netanyahu chose from the beginning – the war!
My assessment is strengthened (from real information) that Israel has no proposals and initiatives in negotiations with Hamas. In fact, there are no real negotiation going on at all. All the talk about new Israeli pressure is basically the continuation of the war with the sole purpose of locating Sinwar and Deif in order to kill them. This is the only “victory picture” that Netanyahu wants. There is no end to the war as Hamas demands, because in the absence of an Israeli political plan that turns Gaza over to acceptable Palestinian elements, accepting Hamas’s demands is essentially Israel’s surrender, which leaves Hamas in control of Gaza.
Therefore, according to Netanyahu, we must continue the war as much as possible.
To hell with the hostages.
If that’s the case, I don’t understand why a decent person like Nitzan Alon remains in the negotiations and why gadi Eizenkot stays in the war cabinet and provides support for Netanyahu.
The negotiating team, including the head of the Mossad and the head of the Shin Bet cannot deal with policy questions regarding the day after the war.
They, and the entire negotiating team are in a trap that only brings death to the hostages.
They know this and still think that Hamas will agree to release hostages without ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza.
The chance of releasing hostages without ending the war is close to zero.
The end of the war is a clear victory for Hamas.
Without the return of the hostages there is no victory for Israel.
But, let’s face it, Israel lost the war on October 7.
The only possible victory is if there are Palestinian elements, not Hamas, who are willing to take over the devastated and blood spilled Gaza Strip.
The relevant Palestinian parties explicitly say that if Israel wants Gaza without Hamas, then there should be a government in the West Bank without Abbas.
The one who keeps Abbas in power is Netanyahu’s Israel.
This is the “catch 22 – magic circle”.
This is our situation this very unhappy Passover this year.
