'Israel' had refused Hamas offer to release captives, bodies last year
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The Wall Street Journal reports on growing fears in "Israel" that time is running out to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and a prisoner exchange.
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People take part in a protest demanding a ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress, outside of the US Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, on July 24, 2024. (AP)
Ceasefire talks are underway, but "Israel" continues to sabotage the talks amid ongoing calls from the families of captives in Gaza to bring them back. As "Israel" continues bombing the Strip, captives appear to be some of the casualties.
The Wall Street Journal reported that according to Arab mediators and a former Israeli negotiator, Hamas had proposed releasing some captives, along with the bodies of two children and a woman, to extend the ceasefire last year. However, "Israel" rejected this offer.
At the time, "Israel" rejected the offer, demanding the release of all living civilian women it believed were being held by Hamas, according to the former Israeli negotiator involved in the talks, the WSJ reported.
On Thursday, Gadi Eizenkot, a former member of "Israel's" war cabinet, revealed that he was the sole cabinet member advocating for the return of the elderly men and bodies, even if it meant delaying the release of the women. He told Israeli radio, “Others thought differently and made a decision that means we will return to fighting.”
The increasing number of dead captives, mainly by Israeli forces' gunfire, enrages the supporters of the ceasefire agreement in "Israel", especially the families of the hostages, who believe that the government is not making sufficient efforts to rescue those still detained in Gaza.
Read next: Released captive refutes Israeli claims of abuse, beating by Hamas
Earlier this week, the Israeli occupation forces revealed that their operations back in March could have killed the Israeli captives who were retrieved from an alleged tunnel in Gaza, Israeli Channel 12 reported.
Estimations show that five out of the six captives were killed by Israeli fire during the ground invasion of Khan Younis six months ago, according to Israeli media.
The Wall Street Journal cited Israeli security officials as saying that it is generally believed that "more hostages will return killed," if a ceasefire deal that could save them is not reached. The newspaper claimed that most security officials in the occupation "insist that reaching an agreement is the only way to secure the release of the remaining 105 captives," who were taken on October 7.
WSJ quoted a former Israeli intelligence official as saying that "most of the hostages will not return to Israel unless an agreement is reached."
Moreover, protests continue erupting in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu’s policies, with demonstrators demanding a prisoner exchange deal with the Palestinian Resistance. Some protesters threatened that if Netanyahu did not resign, they would ensure his death.
Families of Israeli captives being held in the Gaza Strip demonstrated on Saturday evening, urging the government to finalize a prisoner swap. They criticized Netanyahu's conditions, claiming they are obstructing the agreement.
In a statement read outside the Security Ministry in Tel Aviv, the families stressed that "Israel" faces a critical crossroads: Either a deal or escalation.
