Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told the families of kidnapped soldiers and men, in a meeting he held yesterday with family members, that "80% of the military objectives have been achieved, and achieving the remaining 20% will take some time." This was reported this evening (Monday) on 'Kan News'.
According to a report on Channel 12, in a conversation with the soldiers' parents, the Chief of Staff referred to the order of operations required to capture him. Halevi clarified that the ultimate goal is indeed the dismantling of Hamas, but at this stage there is a chronological advancement for the return of the kidnapped.
Referring to Hamas's demand to stop the war, Halevi said that the IDF knew how to return to fighting. The Chief of Staff also emphasized that the military pressure now has great significance, and added - if we reduce the pressure completely, it will be difficult to reach an agreement.
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According to the report in 'Kan News', tomorrow Israel is expected to officially hand over to the mediators its proposal document for a deal to release the hostages.
This is a proposal formulated by the negotiating team and approved by the War Cabinet. According to political sources, the new deviation is considered the most far-reaching that Israel has proposed since the beginning of the talks. However, a source familiar with the details clarified that the issue of the demand for a cessation of hostilities remains open.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, who is responsible for the negotiations on behalf of the IDF, did not participate in the War Cabinet meeting last night.
In light of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's criticism of the Israeli negotiating team, sources familiar with the details of the discussion said that it included a brief overview of the negotiations, which was provided by Mossad head Barnea, and that Alon's presence was not necessary.
According to a report on Channel 12, at the beginning of the meeting, Netanyahu reprimanded: "The leaks coming out of the negotiating team are a scandal. We agreed on confidentiality. I have always expanded the mandate at your request when necessary. The briefings against me are false, you are harming the negotiations.".
Netanyahu made a similar public statement on the Knesset podium when he claimed that he had already approved the expansion of the mandate five times.
In the War Cabinet, there is agreement among the ministers and heads of the defense establishment that it is right to end the activity in Rafah and give priority to the hostage deal, but Prime Minister Netanyahu opposes it.
Supporters of the move believe that Israel should enter the first phase of a deal and thus promote dynamics for agreement later.
