8/9/2024–|Last update: 8/9/202408:01 PM (Makkah Time)
The Israeli security and political cabinet is holding a meeting on Sunday evening amid renewed protests demanding a prisoner exchange deal and an end to the war, while an Israeli newspaper quoted an American official as saying that it would be difficult to reach a compromise on the Philadelphi Corridor.
The cabinet meeting comes 24 hours after the largest demonstrations against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in Israel since October 7.
The Israeli Prisoners’ Families Authority in Gaza estimated that about 750,000 people participated in the demonstrations, including half a million in Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv and Israeli cities are expected to witness new demonstrations this evening.
The participants in the demonstrations last night demanded the speedy conclusion of a prisoner exchange deal. They also criticized Netanyahu’s position on the deal and accused him of abandoning the prisoners.
The Israeli prime minister faces accusations from the prisoners’ families and the opposition of obstructing talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement to spare his government the fall.
For his part, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich today renewed his opposition to a swap deal that would lead to the Israeli army withdrawing from the Philadelphi and Netzarim axes and releasing what he called hundreds of “terrorists.”
American media recently reported on a new proposal being formulated in Washington to be presented to Israel and Hamas as a “last chance.”
The Washington Post quoted sources yesterday as saying that US officials had indefinitely postponed the proposal.
Philadelphia Axis
Meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted a senior American official as saying that the administration of US President Joe Biden was deeply disturbed by statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the continued presence of his forces in the Philadelphi corridor on the Palestinian-Egyptian border.
The US official added that the chances of reaching an agreement with Hamas were already low, but Netanyahu reduced them further after his statements.
He added that it would be very difficult to reach a compromise on the Philadelphi Corridor after Netanyahu’s statements.
The US official said that Hamas realizes that the corridor has become a symbol and will not be in a hurry to give it up, and indicated that Netanyahu and the head of the Hamas movement in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, are not keen on concluding a deal at the present time.
He considered that reaching a settlement regarding the number of prisoners is possible because the exact details remain behind closed doors and are not announced, according to his expression, noting that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns held talks with Israel, Qatar and Egypt to amend the details of the proposal.
The American official pointed out that despite the atmosphere of pessimism, the American administration continues to work on the proposal and bridge the differences.
In contrast to Netanyahu’s insistence on remaining in the Philadelphi corridor, Hamas is clinging to its demands, which are the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces, the conclusion of a real exchange deal, the return of the displaced, and the reconstruction of the Strip.