Without the israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors and the Rafah crossing, there is no agreement
Emmanuel Ukudolo I Sunday, September 01, 2024
TEL AVIV – There is an uncontrollable rage in Israel with prominent citizens calling on the population to storm the streets in protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his recalcitrant stand on the Philadelphia Crossing which has foiled talks for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and exchange of prisoners.
The Israelis are angry following announcement by the Israeli Defence Forces, IDF that it has recovered six more dead bodies of captives hitherto held by the Palestinian Resistant Movement, Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The is the second time six dead bodies are making it to Israel and is being celebrated by cabinet members as an achievement.
” The Paratroopers Brigade operated in both the Hamad area of western Khan Yunis and the eastern part of the city. The troops carried out their mission in densely populated areas, including multi-story buildings.
“In addition, in a joint operation of the Paratroopers Brigade
jp with the Yahalom Unit, the bodies of the hostages, Yagev Buchshtab z”l, Alexander Dancyg z”l, Avraham Munder z”l, Yoram Metzger z”l, Nadav Popplewell z”l, and Haim Perry z”l, were rescued and returned to the State of Israel”, Spokesman of the IDF, Rear Admiral, Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
For residents, those dead captives were killed by Netanyahu for his hardline posture on the ceasefire and prisoners exchange deal.
Moreso when some of the dead captives were in the list Hamas prepared in the botched prisoners exchange deal submitted to negotiators.
Yedioth Ahronoth Newspaper wrote: “Three of the prisoners whose bodies were recovered from the Gaza Strip were on the list approved by Hamas on July 2, and they could have been recovered alive if Netanyahu had approved the deal at the time”.
More so, there are reports that Hamas has allegedly issued a standing order to fighters to kill all captives in custody if they sense the presence of the Occupation Forces.
Former Minister “Ehud Barak” called for civil disobedience. According to him “Netanyahu” does not want to stop the war, and he must be overthrown.
Former Cabinet minister, Benny Gantz said: “The killing of our prisoners brings us to another difficult and painful morning, and I would like, along with the entire people of Israel to embrace the families who received the most news ever.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu hesitates, fears, and plays for time for political considerations instead of acting. A game that costs human life. The prisoners are dead, the sons of the north are exiled, and israeli society is collapsing
“Go out into the streets, it is time to replace the failed government”, he lashed out.
Former Minister and member of the Knesset, Orna Barbibay said:
“How are you this morning, Israeli government? Is the Philadelphia Corridor worth the lives of the prisoners who were killed?”, he asked.
Speaking on the dead captives, Deputy Head of Hamas in Gaza Khalil Al-Hayya said the six prisoners could have been brought back alive, but that Netanyahu should be held responsible for their death.
“Netanyahu said that Philadelphia is more important than the prisoners, and he is sacrificing their life because it does not concern him.
“We provided reassurances to the family of prisoner Hirsch, who holds American citizenship, with the intervention of the Qatari side.
“We lost contact with prisoner Hirsch and his guards after presenting a video reassuring his family, and he was found today among the dead.
“Netanyahu rejected all the flexibility we showed regarding the number of our prisoners who are supposed to be released daily as part of the deal.
“In May, we agreed to a proposal by the mediators in support of the agreement, and the occupation’s response was to storm Rafah and its crossing.
“We accepted the occupation document presented by President Biden and adopted by the Security Council, and we only submitted inquiries.
“Netanyahu’s response to our acceptance of the document presented by President Biden was evasion, then imposing new conditions.
“Netanyahu imposed remaining in Philadelphia and Netzarim and refused to release elderly prisoners sentenced to life.
“The American administration is proceeding on two paths, as it wants an agreement and spreads optimism, but does not want Pressure on “israel.
“The subject of negotiations now has become Netanyahu’s new conditions.
“We are not interested in negotiating Netanyahu’s new conditions and the movement’s decision is not to give up the July 2 proposal.
“We heard about technical committees continuing discussions and looking into some details but we did not engage in them and they did not reach anything.
“Without the israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors and the Rafah crossing, there is no agreement.
“What is happening in the West Bank in terms of killing, storming and destruction confirms that the Netanyahu regime does not recognize any existence of our people
“The situation indicates that all parts of the West Bank will burn and the Netanyahu government wants to spread fires throughout the entire region.
“The Netanyahu government wants, through its operations in the West Bank, for our people to despair of obtaining their legitimate rights.
“The occupation wants, through escalation and violations in the West Bank, to prepare for what it is planning regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque
“The Palestinian people who are facing the occupation’s violations see no hope except through resistance and will not surrender.
“The situation in Gaza is different from the West Bank and our people find the means to confront the occupation and the settlers.
“The work between all factions in Gaza and the West Bank is joint and they work side by side to nullify the occupation’s goals”, Hamas said.
