Israel's Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Hostage Deal Amid Coalition Rifts

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel was not prepared to accept a deal at any cost to release hostages held by Hamas amid rifts in his coalition over a US push to increase aid to Gaza.

The remarks came during the recent incident in a raging coalition dispute between religious nationalist parties opposed to any concessions to the Palestinians and a centrist group led by former army generals.

Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Hostage Deal

(Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 16: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) speak to the media following talks at the Chancellery on March 16, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. Netanyahu's one-day visit to Berlin is being accompanied by protests, including both by people angry over Israel’s policies towards Palestinians as well as those critical of possible new legislation in Israel supported by Netanyahu that would undermine the independence and the power of Israel's Supreme Court, effectively curtailing democracy in Israel.

"The efforts to free the hostages are continuing at all times," Netanyahu stated in comments ahead of a cabinet meeting that was released to the media. "As I also emphasized in the Security Cabinet - we will not agree to every deal, and not at any price."

Netanyahu appeared to deliver a rebuke to his far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has called for the return of Jewish settlers to Gaza. He also has criticized Israel's staunchest ally, US President Joe Biden, for insisting on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave.

During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Ben-Gvir openly supported Donald Trump, Biden's likely opponent in the US presidential election in November. Ben-Gvir said Biden is busy giving humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza instead of giving them his full backing.

He added that if Trump was in power, the US conduct would be completely different. Netanyahu, who has an occasionally tense relationship with Biden, criticized the comment, which came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the region.

On Sunday, Blinken said at a cabinet meeting that he did not need assistance navigating their relations with the US and the international community while steadfastly upholding their national interests.

Former opposition politician Benny Gantz joined the emergency unity government last year. He tweeted his gratitude to Biden following Ben-Gvir's interview, saying, "The people of Israel will forever remember how you stood up for the right of Israel in one of our most difficult hours."

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan claimed that the US would keep attempting to bring more aid into Gaza as it faces a severe humanitarian crisis.

He told CBS television's 'Face the Nation' program that it means pressing Israel on issues related to humanitarian assistance that they have helped unlock and get into the Gaza Strip, and there needs to be much more of it.

UNRWA Warns Gaza Aid at Risk

The UN agency for Palestinian Refugees has warned that if funding cuts for UNRWA are not restored, schools, clinics, and even garbage collections in the West Bank, three other Middle Eastern countries could cease operations by the end of the month. Vital supplies of fuel and bread flour for Gaza also face running out.

Funding for the agency has been suspended in several nations, including the US and the UK, following accusations that 12 of its employees participated in the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

UNRWA operates networks of warehouses and lorries for aid in Gaza, where the UN has warned of an imminent famine that will affect two million people. Thousands of people are now housed in shelters that UNWRA once maintained in schools.