According to six Israeli officials and advisors speaking to NBC News on Thursday, Israel is prepared to allow Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar to go into exile in exchange for the release of all prisoners and the dismantling of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. They indicated that the idea of exile paves the way for a new governing body in Gaza. This comes as diplomatic talks and efforts continue to calm the situation in Gaza, amidst growing concerns for the fate of over a million Palestinians trapped in the southern city of Rafah, where Israel is preparing to launch an attack. The lingering question is whether hopes for a ceasefire are still alive.
U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators are racing against time to reach an agreement to stop the fighting in Gaza and end the war that has now entered its fifth month. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared optimistic in his statements, saying he still sees room for negotiation, while warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against any actions that could escalate tensions.
Blinken's comments came after Netanyahu rejected Hamas's call for a four-month ceasefire as part of a prisoner exchange deal, describing the proposal as "delusional" and pledging military action in Rafah. A new survey showed that 51% of Israelis believe that recovering captives should be the main objective of the war, while 36% said that the goal should be to topple Hamas.
