Israeli media is reporting tense exchanges between Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over the looming truce and prisoner swap deal with Hamas.
Smotrich and other far-right lawmakers are vehemently opposing the agreement in a cabinet meeting, according to Israeli media reports, saying that Hamas will look to prolong the truce and stop Israel’s ground-invasion if it goes through.
“Do you trust [Yahya] Sinwar more than us?” Gantz responded to the claims, according to The Times of Israel, referring to the head of Hamas in Gaza and chief of the group’s military wing.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has also attacked the potential deal.
“This is a decision with generational damage that will come back to hurt us badly,” he told Israel’s cabinet,” according to the Times of Israel.
Smotrich and Ben Gvir are unable to block the deal, but their opposition underscores the deep divide within Israel, and the pressure amongst many lawmakers to take the deadly war in Gaza even further.
As part of the deal, up to 50 Israelis or Israeli dual nationals, mainly women and children, would be released by Hamas over a four-day period when there would be a ceasefire.
In return, Israel will release 150 Palestinian captives being held in Israeli jails, mainly women and children.
MEE
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