Israelis react to possible hostage deal, Gaza ceasefire
Israelis gripped by rumours of an imminent hostage agreement and ceasefire reacted to the uncertainty with a mix of views on Tuesday.
Israelis demonstrate for and against a ceasefire. Photos by Gideon Markowicz/TPS-IL and Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS-IL
The Tikva Forum, which represents the families of hostages, said the families were making arrangements for the possible return of their loved ones, but warned that a partial agreement with Hamas was a dangerous precedent.
“What [government officials] don’t tell the public – a partial deal is a “standing order” for the full deal,” the Forum said. “Every partial deal they sign with Hamas is not just another deal – it signals a profound strategic shift. From now on, Hamas will be considered the official sovereign in Gaza, as if it were the legitimate representative of all residents of the Strip – one that can sign abductee deals on behalf of everyone.”
It argued that Hamas has no interest in returning the captives, “but rather in keeping them as a permanent bargaining chip.”
The Otef Israel Forum, which represents residents of communities near the Gaza Strip, said it would welcome a deal that brings home the hostages. But it noted, “Hamas was not defeated, but rather harmed – there is a huge gap between the two. It seems that the road to achieving this goal is longer than we thought, and we will continue to engage in it until we reach full security.”
Meanwhile, the Heroism Forum, which represents bereaved families from the October 7 attacks and war said the ceasefire needs to preserve the possibility of destroying Hamas.
“Along with the understanding that the time has come for a responsible deal that will preserve the strategic assets that were bought with the blood of our sons, we cannot allow a deal in which all the kidnappers will not return and will abandon the remaining kidnappers, and we must not give up on the war’s goal of destroying Hamas. Unfortunately, Netanyahu did not find the time to meet with the bereaved families and hear our position,” the Forum said.
Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Israel Katz tweeted, “In response to various publications – my position on Gaza is clear. After we defeat Hamas’ military and governmental power in Gaza, Israel will have security control over Gaza with full freedom of action, just as it did in Judea and Samaria. We will not allow any terrorist organization against Israeli communities and Israeli citizens from Gaza. We will not allow a return to the reality of before October 7th.”
Rumours were partly fueled by questions about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s whereabouts. He was reportedly seen leaving Tuesday morning in a helicopter from a helipad at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, a location he is known to frequently use. It was later revealed Netanyahu went to Mt. Hermon, a strategic peak along Israel-Syria border, for a security assessment with military officials.
At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 97 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.
