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Netanyahu Shifts Strategy: Partial Hostage Deal for 120 Hostages, Plans to Resume Conflict

Jun 23, 2024, 06:44 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a shift in strategy regarding the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu stated that he is willing to accept a partial hostage deal to recover some of the 120 hostages held by Hamas, contradicting an earlier proposal approved by the war cabinet and detailed in President Biden's speech. This partial deal would allow Israel to resume military operations after the hostages' release. Despite Netanyahu's statements, a senior Israeli official indicated that negotiations over a ceasefire deal with Hamas have reached a dead end, with Israel unwilling to support a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. The Israeli military continues its operations in Gaza, aiming to defeat Hamas, but faces challenges due to Hamas' extensive tunnel network and the presence of hundreds of Palestinian resistance fighters. Additionally, the current strategy of heavy military operations has bolstered Palestinian support for Hamas, complicating Israel's national security objectives. Netanyahu also mentioned that after completing the Rafah operation, Israeli forces will move towards the northern border.