The Prime Minister held a discussion today (Wednesday) in which the composition of the negotiating team that will leave tomorrow for Doha, the capital of Qatar, was determined in order to advance the deal for the Israeli hostages in Gaza. The team will include the head of the Mossad, Dadi Barnea, the head of the Shin Bet, Ronan Bar, and the person in charge of the abductees, Major General Nitzan Alon. The Prime Minister’s political advisor, Ofir Fleck, will also join the team. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu approved the mandate for the team. Most likely he will not participate in the summit.
Meanwhile, the US, German and British ambassadors in Israel held a joint press conference at the headquarters of the families of the abductees in Tel Aviv in order to promote negotiations for their release. The US ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, emphasized: “My government believes that it is important to continue working with the mediators for a solution and a ceasefire. The suffering of the abductees and their families is reason enough for us to be here. In the name of humanity, it is long past time for them to be at home. This great urgency is also related to creating stability in the region and not creating an escalation in violence. This will bring peace to Israel and the region.”
The German ambassador to Israel, Stefan Seibert, stated: “I am here with hope and a sense of urgency. The eyes of millions in Israel and Gaza are on the summit on Thursday. A deal to release the abductees, end the war and change the reality from war to peace will allow the Israelis to return home to the north. It will not be easy, but it must start. Germany thanks the mediators and Israeli negotiators who are working hard.”
In addition, Seibert emphasized that: “There is no more urgent duty than to bring about their release as soon as possible. Their suffering is beyond imagination, we have terrible testimonies. Some of them will not return alive. Every day in captivity is terrible for body and soul. We have accompanied the families for the past ten months and we know that they are suffering beyond imagination. I have seen entire communities in pain and crying, but the families show incredible strength and continue to fight for their loved ones.”
The British ambassador to Israel, Simon Walters, said: “Like my friends, I come with the abductees in my thoughts. Even in our worst nightmares we did not believe that we would be here 10 months later. I see the resilience of the families and we stand by their suffering until their loved ones return. As my Prime Minister said, now is the time for a deal to return the abductees are at a critical juncture. We need a deal that will lead to a more positive reality.”
Earlier today, as reported by the IDF spokesman, the Chief of Staff, Major General Herzi Halevi, there was a situation assessment on the Philadelphia axis in the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip, with the commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, the commander of Division 162, Major General Itzik Cohen and other commanders. According to him, “The return of the kidnapped is the goal of the war – and we are working on it with great determination. Hamas should know that every day he holds our hostages will be more bitter for him than the previous day. We will get stricter until we manage to return the abductees, and after that we will not allow Hamas to raise its head.”
