Benyamin Netanyahu will undergo
hernia surgery this
evening . This was announced by the Israeli prime minister's office. The surgery will take place under general anesthesia, and Justice Minister Yariv Levin will take over as interim head of government during the operation.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Shin Bet and representatives of the Mossad have
left for Cairo
where they will hold talks on the release of the hostages. The online edition of Haaretz writes it.
A Hamas official said that the Palestinian faction
has not yet decided whether or not to send a delegation
to Cairo and Doha to discuss a new truce in Gaza.
Hamas still considers the positions
between the movement and Israel "too distant" to "make progress" in negotiations on a truce in Gaza. A leader of the Palestinian faction made this known. “I doubt there will be any progress in these negotiations because the positions are too far apart,” the official said on condition of anonymity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu is not serious and not interested, and the American administration is not exerting any real pressure," he added.
Israel is showing flexibility in the talks, while
on the contrary Hamas is hardening its positions
. Beyamin Netanyahu said this at a press conference. Hamas, he explained, is calling for the uncontrolled return of Gazans to the northern Strip, "including terrorists". Accepting all the demands would have implications for Israel's security, he added. The prime minister then addressed the citizens who are calling for early elections: "They would paralyze the country for 8 months, the hostage negotiations and would put an end to the war before reaching our objectives. And Hamas would be the first to celebrate."
'Ready to act in Rafah and evacuate civilians'
The IDF is ready to operate in Rafah, evacuate the civilian population and distribute humanitarian aid. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this at a press conference in Jerusalem, stating that "it is the right thing to do at an operational and international level". “It will take time, but it will be done,” Netanyahu said, assuring that Hamas battalions in Gaza will be eliminated.
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