Israel’s Channel 12 said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and extremist ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have rejected Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Channel 12 reported sources as saying that the Egyptian proposal was raised in a cabinet discussion and saw support from Israeli security services, in addition to most of the cabinet ministers.
However extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich opposed it alongside Netanyahu.
According to the report, Netanyahu opposed the proposal because the two-day ceasefire would be implemented before the release of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, he claimed, noting that his position is that “it is not permissible to deviate from the principle of conducting negotiations except under fire.”
The report added that the proposal was not put to a vote, and the head of the Shin Bet was sent to Egypt to “amend” it, noting that “there is an Arab consensus on a ceasefire in Gaza, the entry of aid, and the release of hostages.”
Sisi’s proposal
President Sisi on Sunday confirmed that Cairo had presented an initiative for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for two days, and to exchange some prisoners.
According to Sisi, four Israeli prisoners will be exchanged for several Palestinian prisoners during the two days, and he stated that Egypt’s proposal for a temporary ceasefire aims to reach a permanent one.
The Egyptian president’s statements came as the Israeli negotiating delegation headed to Qatar, without the head of the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet), and reserve general Nitzan Alon, who was responsible for handling the issue of Israeli prisoners and hostages, according to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation “Kan 11”.
