Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel’s national unity government, defended a deal to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners during a lull in the conflict. However, he reiterated that the war will continue until Tel Aviv achieves its proposed objectives: the release of all prisoners, the destruction of Hamas, the Islamist group that has been in power in the Gaza Strip since 2006, and the guarantee that that area will no longer be a poses a threat. to your country.

“We are at war, and the war will continue until all objectives are achieved,” the head of government said before the start of a ministerial meeting to discuss the agreement. Netanyahu, who described the release of the hostages as an “absolute priority,” said ministers had “a difficult but right decision ahead.”

The deal in question will allow the release of at least 50 people, including women and children, in exchange for at least 150 Palestinians, and up to 300. In return, Tel Aviv commits to lay down its weapons and end air surveillance operations during the to stop war. four and five days, in addition to the entry of humanitarian aid and fuel into Gaza. “We will not rest until everyone is released. The war has phases and the return of the hostages will have phases,” he continued.

According to Channel 12, the agreement includes a release of hostages in five phases. In the first case, Hamas will hand over the hostages to the Red Cross. From there they will be transferred to the Israeli army; They will then be examined by medical teams and, depending on their health status, sent to hospitals in Israel where they can reunite with their families. At a later date, some may be interrogated by security authorities, which will happen to everyone later.

According to the same source, the first hostages could be released on Thursday – the operation is expected to take place in phases, with the release of a dozen hostages per day. The Israeli government continued to discuss the terms of the deal well into the night, although all signs point to progress.

In addition to Netanyahu, the defense minister also spoke before the meeting and said Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza is a key factor in the “increasing pressure” on Hamas. ‘Without the constant pressure [sobre o Hamas]”There will be no chance” to guarantee the release of the next groups of hostages, he says, promising that once the four- to five-day ceasefire ends, Israeli operations in Gaza “will resume in full force.” will be resumed. War Minister Benny Gantz said the agreement “is a difficult draft, it is painful, but it is also correct”.

As the meeting took place in Tel Aviv, the US State Department also said a deal was close, repeating the president’s words hours earlier. According to Netanyahu, the US president was a key player in “improving the proposed framework” and “taking more hostages at a lower cost.”

Attacks in southern Lebanon

Israeli bombings in southern Lebanon killed eight people, including two journalists from Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen television, the broadcaster said, and a Hamas leader. According to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), two journalists and another civilian were killed “in enemy bombardments” in the Tair Harfa area.

Al-Mayadeen director Ghassan bin Jiddo accused the Israeli army of carrying out a deliberate attack and said the channel’s pro-Iranian website was blocked by Tel Aviv. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 53 media professionals have been killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli military said it was analyzing the “incident” but that the army was acting in a Hezbollah “launch zone.” The NNA also said another five people were killed in separate airstrikes. In one, a car was hit, killing four people, including Khalil al-Kharraz, top leader of Hamas’s military wing in Lebanon.

To further increase tensions, Washington accused the Russian mercenary group Wagner of preparing to transfer an anti-aircraft system to Hezbollah or Iran “at the request of Russian authorities.” Iran could increase military aid to Russia in return, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, referring to a possible delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to the Russian military to attack Ukraine.

The Pentagon, in turn, reported that it had killed several Iraqi fighters from a pro-Iranian militia. A US aircraft responded by firing a short-range ballistic missile at US personnel stationed at Al-Asad air base. The attack resulted in eight injuries and damage to infrastructure, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said. The Ain al-Asad air base is located in the desert of western Anbar province.

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