Mossad Chief David Barnea, during a meeting with the Israeli "War Cabinet" held on Wednesday, saw an opportunity to reach a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, considering that this requires flexibility in the Israeli stance regarding Hamas's requests concerning the return of residents from Gaza to northern Gaza. According to Israeli reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly opposed this idea, while War Cabinet members Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot expressed their support for Barnea.
Barnea informed Cabinet members that there is potential to advance negotiations despite Hamas's response, asserting that the price required is flexibility in relocating residents of Gaza to the northern region, emphasizing the need to think of an "innovative solution" to this issue. He stated that the effort is worth the chance to release 40 living hostages held in Gaza, and his view was supported by Gantz, Eisenkot, and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
On the other hand, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi expressed their rejection of flexibility at this time, asserting that the advance towards Rafah should continue without a public announcement to support a new American effort to enhance negotiations. Despite this, Netanyahu took a hard stance, rejecting Barnea's position, announcing his readiness to enter Rafah and to make that public, considering that members of the "War Cabinet" are unable to conduct difficult negotiations.
The meeting ended without decisions being made, and a meeting for the War Cabinet scheduled for Thursday to discuss negotiations regarding the hostages was canceled for unknown reasons. The Cabinet later convened on Thursday evening in an expanded format.