Senior Israeli government officials have high expectations for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming trip to Washington next week.
Unlike the cold shoulder given by the Biden administration to Netanyahu throughout the beginning of his term, this time Netanyahu is the first leader to receive an official invitation from the president-elect. The ceasefire, which will then enter its third week, will also reach a crucial point regarding negotiations for the next phase. Senior Israeli officials expect this time – in contrast to initial pressures for a deal – support for the Israeli position demanding maximization of hostage returns through massive pressure on Hamas and mediators.
Netanyahu's trip to Washington will shed light on what to expect in the second phase, or alternatively – on returning to war to achieve all war objectives. While in consultations Netanyahu held last week, ministers got the impression he is determined to renew fighting after the return of hostages, they are leaving the door open for Trump to try to corner Hamas as part of a second phase and removal of its leaders from Gaza. However, they claim the chances of this are slim.
"Victory parade" for Hamas
Meanwhile, officials claim success in managing to secure another phase on Thursday in which Arbel Yehoud (29), Agam Berger (20), and another hostage will be released, with one more phase on Saturday. According to sources familiar with the matter, this approach offers better chances of securing the release of more living hostages.
In the meantime, Hamas received its demand as the Netzarim route opened for movement to northern Gaza in what appeared to be a victory parade, while providing nothing in return except promises for early release this coming Thursday. Israel has expressed resentment that Hamas only released a numerical list of living hostages, 18 out of 26 expected to be released in the first phase, instead of a list of names. Due to this manipulation, the hostage administration had to hold conversations with families throughout the day to clarify the situation as much as possible. Sources clarified that the numbers align with intelligence assessments that were in our possession.
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli source on Monday addressed the images Hamas broadcast of residents returning to northern Gaza and said that "in accordance with the hostage release agreement, the vehicular crossing at Netzarim began operating and checking Gazans moving northward. The screening mechanism at Netzarim is being implemented after Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted on including it in the agreement during negotiations, despite opposition from internal and external elements who claimed there would be no deal if Israel insisted on this."
The source added that "the vehicular crossing is meant to prevent transfer of heavy weapons to northern Gaza, and it is operated by a multinational consortium of companies, including an American security company conducting the screening." However, from the internal reports in Gaza, it was difficult to see how the promised screening is carried out, and whether there is any possibility to examine each person crossing for possession of weapons and ammunition. Either way, political officials already instructed the IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi last week to formulate plans for returning to war and even demanded presentation of corrections to operational plans shown to them. It appears that at least in the government, they harbor no illusions about the deal's costs in Gaza and the risk that may materialize very soon under the cover of that return to northern Gaza and in disturbing proximity to the city of Sderot.
"Committed to objectives"
An Israeli source familiar with diplomatic developments hints that Israel intends to return to fighting in Gaza when the hostage release agreement is exhausted. "We are committed to all war objectives. We destroyed about 85% of Hamas's military capabilities in Gaza and rescued about two-thirds of the hostages. We are committed to returning all of them and destroying all of Hamas' capabilities in Gaza, no less," says the senior Israeli official.
His comments were made to Israel Hayom in response to criticism from parts of the public, including from organizations that had supported the government until now, regarding the strategic prices Israel paid to return the hostages.
