Israel’s Security Cabinet Pauses Escalation to Explore Gaza Ceasefire and Prisoner Deal
Decision follows international pressure and Hamas’ offer to begin comprehensive negotiations for prisoner exchange and end to war.
Watan-The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday that the Israeli Security and Political Cabinet (the “Cabinet”) has decided to “give negotiations a chance” regarding a potential agreement on a prisoner exchange and ceasefire in Gaza before taking any further escalatory steps in the Strip.
The broadcaster, an official source, quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying, “The Cabinet has decided to allow room for negotiations before moving forward with any new escalatory measures.”
The official claimed that “pressure is currently being exerted on Hamas by several international parties to accept the proposal put forward by U.S. mediator Steve Wehtkoff, aimed at reaching a prisoner exchange deal and a long-term truce,” according to his statement.
Cabinet Divided Over Next Steps in Gaza War
These remarks came despite a recent announcement by Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, who expressed the movement’s readiness to immediately begin “comprehensive package negotiations” to release all Israeli prisoners in one deal, in exchange for ending the genocide and a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. However, Tel Aviv has shown intransigence toward engaging in negotiations.
The Cabinet’s decision, as revealed by the Israeli broadcaster, was made during a meeting held Tuesday evening to determine the future of the genocide being perpetrated by Tel Aviv in the Gaza Strip, which has continued for over a year and a half.
The meeting took place amid differing views among ministers — some pushing for a full-scale war and military escalation, while others favored a gradual escalation strategy to improve negotiation terms with Hamas and recover Israeli prisoners from Gaza, according to the same source.
