Israel makes 'party' statement regarding Egypt and Qatar

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich argued that Egypt and Qatar cannot be a party to what happens in Gaza in the future.

According to a report by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Smotrich spoke at a meeting with members of the Religious Zionism Party, which he leads.

Claiming that they would not repeat the same mistakes and that Egypt and Qatar could not be a party to what happens in Gaza in the future, Smotrich alleged that Egypt allowed Hamas to arm itself recklessly, arguing that its only possible role would be to open its borders for the residents of the Gaza Strip to pass through to there and to other countries.

Regarding the proposals from officials in Egypt and Qatar, Smotrich stated that the war cabinet should discuss these issues.

"I can say clearly that the war cabinet does not have the authority to stop the war before achieving the goals of destroying Hamas, rescuing the hostages, and eliminating the threat in the Gaza Strip," Smotrich said, adding that "Israel will not accept a government that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority would establish under the name of technocrats."

In a report by The Times of Israel based on the Saudi website Asharq, it was claimed that Egypt had made a proposal involving a "three-stage ceasefire" and the gradual release of all hostages in the blockaded Gaza Strip, where Israel's attacks continue.

According to this, it was stated that the first stage envisioned a 2-week ceasefire that could be extended up to 3 or 4 weeks, and that it was planned to release 40 Israeli hostages, including women, children, elderly men, and the sick, during this stage.

In return, it was noted that the goal was for Israel to release 120 Palestinians held in the same categories, to "ensure a ceasefire" during the period in question, and for "Israeli tanks to withdraw from Gaza and humanitarian aid to be delivered to the region."

In the second stage, it was claimed that talks would be held between Palestinian groups to discuss the "establishment of a technocratic government in the West Bank and Gaza."

It was stated that the third and final stage included the release of all Israeli hostages in Gaza following a "comprehensive ceasefire," in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, the number of which would be determined later.

News Source: AA