Internal Israeli schisms resurface: Gantz threatens probing Netanyahu

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
16 Aug 2024 21:37
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Former war cabinet minister and Knesset member Benny Gantz accuses Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu of causing the "biggest disaster" in "Israel's" history.

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Benny Gantz attends a ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in occupied al-Quds on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be able to escape after causing the "biggest disaster" in "Israel's" history, said former war cabinet minister and Knesset member Benny Gantz, referring to the October 7 incidents and the Israeli government's failure to retrieve the captives held in Gaza since then.

"What’s wrong with you? Do you think you can escape and get away after the biggest disaster in Israel’s history?" Gantz told Netanyahu in a video message posted on his official account on the X platform.

"Look into the eyes of the families of the dead, the captives, the wounded, and the deceased. They deserve answers. The people of Israel deserve an in-depth and thorough investigation," he said, addressing the Israeli occupation Prime Minister.

נתניהו,
חושב שתוכל לברוח ולמרוח?
ועדת חקירה ממלכתית - תקום.
איתך, או בלעדיך. pic.twitter.com/Ym6vySCs4B
— בני גנץ - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) August 16, 2024

Gantz emphasized that Netanyahu does not have the legitimacy to manipulate the situation, adding that an official inquiry committee will be established, with or without the Israeli premier.

His remarks came the same day as the US, Qatar, and Egypt announced that senior officials from their governments will reconvene in Cairo before the end of next week with an aim to conclude a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and "Israel".

In a trilateral statement, the three nations confirmed that over the last 48 hours in Doha, senior American, Qatari, and Egyptian officials engaged in intensive talks as mediators aiming to conclude an agreement.

It is noteworthy that Hamas did not take part in the Doha talks and insists that the mediators compel the Israeli occupation entity to comply with the ceasefire agreement the movement approved on July 2 instead of engaging in new rounds of negotiations.

Commenting on the talks, officials told AFP that Hamas will not accept "new conditions" from "Israel" in the proposal put forward during the talks in Doha.

An informed source highlighted that as part of the Israeli obstruction maneuver, "Israel" introduced "new" conditions, which include keeping troops inside Gaza along its border with Egypt, while Hamas, according to the source, demands "a complete ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Strip, a normal return of the displaced and a (prisoner) exchange deal" without restrictions.

"Israel" also demanded veto rights on the prisoners and detainees to be exchanged, as well as the ability to deport some of them rather than send them back to Gaza, the source said.

Later, Netanyahu called on the three mediators to "pressure" Hamas to accept a deal.

"Israel hopes that their pressure will lead Hamas to accept the May 27 principles, in order for the details of the agreement to be implemented," a statement from his office said, referring to the three-phase plan submitted to US President Joe Biden.