Israeli PM Netanyahu rejects deal to release prisoners held by Hamas

Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected an offer to negotiate with Hamas for the release of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reports

Israeli ministers prepared a deal to release Israeli prisoners held by Hamas, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected it, Channel 13 reported.

As per reports, negotiations were expected to move forward through an (unnamed) mediator, but Netanyahu hardened his position and eventually rejected the move.

According to the channel, Netanyahu’s rejection was made without coordination with War Council Ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, who expressed outrage at the Prime Minister’s position.

Channel 13 also quoted unnamed political officials as saying that Netanyahu was “blocking an effort to reach an agreement on the release of the abductees.”

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on the negotiations that “the condition demanded by Hamas and categorically rejected by the Prime Minister is an end to the war.”

According to the Israeli military, there are still 136 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip.

On Nov. 24, 2023, 81 Israelis and 240 Palestinian prisoners were mutually released during the “humanitarian pause” in the fighting in Gaza, which was mediated by Qatar and Egypt for four days and then extended for three days.

Source: Channel 13

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