According to information reported by the daily MaarivIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have proposed that Israel begins to annex certain parts of the Gaza Strip if Hamas once again refuses mediation efforts for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
This proposal would have been presented during a restricted meeting with several ministers, during which it would have been decided to create a special entity responsible for the administration of potentially annexed areas. The information, not sourced, suggests that Israel would, however, give a new chance to the negotiations in progress.
In addition, the daily Haaretz Affirms that this initiative is also part of a political maneuver aimed at preventing the Minister of Finance Betsalel Smotrich from leaving the coalition. The leader of the Religious Zionism party threatens to withdraw from the government if the latter accepts an agreement deemed too favorable to Hamas.
These revelations intervene while the talks, conducted with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, struggle to progress after months of conflict.
