Matan Angrest abducted during the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre
Noam, the daughter of Chaim Peri, who was abducted to Gaza and murdered by the terrorists, said that Defense Minister Israel Katz promised her when he was heading the Foreign Ministry that releasing the hostages was the primary goal. "Since he became Defense Minister, he forgot all about it," she said.
Security officials said on Saturday that the cabinet's decision does not mean an immediate assault on central Gaza and that preparations would take until October. "That's a long time in Middle East terms," the officials said, adding that the decision allows for changes and there is an expectation that negotiations would resume.
"It seems like [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu was playing for time to preserve his coalition," they said.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits an IDF induction center earlir in the week
(Photo: GPO)
Sources close to Hamas said on Saturday that there are intensive talks with Israel through the mediation of the U.S., Egypt and Qatar, to prevent Israeli occupation of the Strip.
According to the sources, a proposal being discussed includes an end to the war, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and the release of all of the hostages. The proposal also includes the disarming of the Palestinian factions, the removal of senior members of the military wing of Hamas from Gaza and the establishment of a civilian administration that would take control of the Strip.
"Hamas has expressed flexibility in the negotiations, but has also said it was prepared for the fighting to resume if its position is rejected.
