Mossad Chief Presents War Cabinet With Potential Hostage Deal, Netanyahu Affirms ‘Red Lines’
Mossad chief David Barnea presented a deal to Israel’s War Cabinet on Wednesday that could result in the release of the hostages still held in the Gaza Strip, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 news.
Officially 136 hostages are being held in Gaza, of whom at least 29 have been confirmed dead.
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The reported deal would play out in stages, the first being the release of 35 hostages, specifically the women, sick, injured, and elderly, in exchange for an initial 35-day cease-fire.
While the identities and number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange are still being negotiated, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement on Wednesday affirming there are non-negotiable “red lines” that the Israeli government is unwilling to cross.
“We will not end the war. We will not pull the IDF out of the strip. We will not release thousands of terrorists,” Netanyahu said.
He added that although the government is working towards freeing the captives, it would not sacrifice other goals such as “the elimination of Hamas and [ensuring] that Gaza never again represents a threat.”
