Netanyahu Rejects Hostage Deal Deal Drawn Up By Mossad, Shin Bet, and IDF

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected an outline for a potential hostage deal with Hamas that was drawn up by Israel’s Mossad spy agency, the Shin Bet security agency, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

According to The Times of Israel, the proposal was put together by Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, an IDF officer in charge of intelligence efforts to find Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Details of the outline are unclear, but it was likely a response to Hamas’s recent counteroffer for a 135-day truce to facilitate the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and a permanent ceasefire.

The proposal was discussed with Netanyahu several times, including during a prepatory meeting for hostage deal talks in Egypt that were held on Tuesday and attended by Barnea, CIA chief William Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and Egyptian officials.