Separation of arenas, humanitarian aid and commitment to toppling Hamas: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to reporters at noon and compared the Hamas leader to Hitler. "Sinwar doesn't care about his people and behaves like a little Hitler in a bunker. His people are as interested in him as a garlic peel," Netanyahu said, referring to the fact that as far as Hamas is concerned, the humanitarian aid provided to residents in the Gaza Strip could not be used as a bargaining chip.
Documentation: IDF uncovers active combat tunnels in Gaza | IDF Spokesperson
Israel believes that the demands of the United States and its allies for humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip extend the political credit given to Israel to act against Hamas and do not thwart the possibility of a hostage deal, since Hamas leaders do not care at all about the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Despite Israel's official refusal to comment on the day after in the Gaza Strip, a political source told Israel Hayom that security control would remain in Israel's hands. "I don't see a situation in which Israel won't have supreme security responsibility in Gaza the day after the war," he said. In addition, regarding the long term in Gaza, the political source said that "it is not enough to rehabilitate Gaza. It must be subjected to a process of denazification." "This culture [of wanting to kill Jews] still exists in the PA."
IDF activity in the Gaza Strip, photo: IDF Spokesperson
Progress to free the hostages
The political source later noted that the ground operation contributed to obtaining information about the abductees. "We see something, it hasn't matured yet. Before that, we didn't see anything." In addition, it is estimated in Israel that most of the abductees are alive. Despite Qatar's problematic nature, Israel still sees it as the only option for brokering a deal.
Against the background of the demands for a ceasefire in return for progress in the deal for the release of the hostages, the political source clarified that Israel would allow a temporary ceasefire only in return for the release of the abductees and not for the purpose of "talks." "Even if there is a ceasefire in return for the return of the hostages, it will be temporary and Israel will continue to work to topple Hamas."
Meanwhile, for the first time, an official source denied the appointment of former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen as an official responsible on behalf of the prime minister for the issue of abductees or otherwise. According to him, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen was not appointed to serve as an envoy on behalf of the prime minister. "He did address the prime minister at the beginning of the war with a message from an Arab leader. The prime minister accepted the message, but instructed him to work under the current Mossad chief Barnea.
"Parallel axes can complicate the matter," the diplomatic source said, adding that except for one mission required by Cohen on behalf of the prime minister, the contacts with the Qataris are managed by the head of the Mossad, who serves together with Nitzan Alon's intelligence staff and the head of the Shin Bet. They report to the war cabinet.
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid make their way from Egypt to Gaza via the Rafah crossing, Photo: Getty Images
Israel describes political credit as an "hourglass" that depends on two factors – not harming innocent people and humanitarian aid to residents of Gaza, as well as focusing on action to destroy Hamas' capabilities. Despite the American demands, Israel has not only made it clear again that no fuel has entered the Gaza Strip so far and that Israel is working to find alternative routes in the face of international pressure. Ostensibly, the demand for fuel is intended to operate the hospitals, but Israel fears that the fuel will be used by Hamas, whose headquarters are below the hospitals.
Israel is formulating alternative routes for fuel requirements for hospitals, among other things, it has become known that they are working with France to establish a floating hospital off the coast of Gaza, to establish a field hospital in Sinai and in a safe area inside the Gaza Strip, or a hospital in the Rafah area that Egypt will open. All these are supposed to serve the sick and wounded in Gaza instead of hospitals where fuel is allegedly running out. Israel intends to cooperate with humanitarian solutions as much as possible in order to extend political credit for action on the one hand and avoid the entry of fuel on the other.
Eyes to the North
Israel still maintains separation between the two arenas, and while the attacks in Gaza continue, in the north the IDF is acting on the defensive. After Nasrallah's speech on Friday, Israel believes that he is not interested in a large-scale war, and the actions in the north are met with sporadic attacks by Israel. At present, the largest deployment in the north is supposed to provide a response to threats from Lebanon, but in the long term, a political source says that residents of the region will be able to return home safely "due to the scope and intensity of the victory over Hamas."
Not interested in war, Nasrallah, photo: AFP
In addition, he said, "the IDF will prepare differently for breaching the border, and not only for the infiltration of squads into communities, but for thousands. Depending on the threats, the IDF will be larger. We will invest in the army. Hezbollah cannot now breach the border because of the preparedness and readiness of our forces. Therefore, the event of the conquest of the north has decreased."
As for the political arena, Israel is acting aggressively vis-à-vis Russia but is not suspending relations with it. Israel also has an "understanding" of the conduct of Turkey and other Arab countries due to the pressure exerted by residents of those countries against Israel due to the fighting. The diplomatic source discussed the possibility of returning to contacts with Saudi Arabia after the war, saying that "there are intelligent people sitting in both Saudi Arabia and Israel. The activity we started before the war can be continued later, but on condition that we win."
Palestinian Authority
Israel also distinguishes between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, claiming that the PA, with all its ills, is still a factor that helps maintain order in Judea and Samaria. As for the fact that Mahmoud Abbas is now neutering to receive PA funds deducted from Hamas from Israel, a political source said that "they will not want to, they will not receive." In addition, the political source confirmed the publication in Israel Hayom about the preparations for the Palestinian Authority police to turn their rifles against Israel, saying, "The West Bank also needs a response. The possibility of reed reversal is before our eyes."
Concluding with questions about the prime minister's political future, the diplomatic source said, "The prime minister is walking around and dealing with only one thing: waging the war. Let the public deal with it, the prime minister does not intend to deal with it now."
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