Israel's spy chief advocates continuing Gaza attacks

By Mustafa Deveci

The head of Israel's spy agency Mossad advocated for the Israeli army to continue its attacks on the Gaza Strip after the initial phase of the potential hostage exchange and a cease-fire agreement with Hamas, Israeli media reported on Friday.

Daily Haaretz reported that David Barnea attended the Security Cabinet meeting Thursday evening to discuss the current phase of the hostage exchange negotiations.

Barnea updated the ministers at the meeting on the latest developments in the hostage exchange negotiations, the daily said.

According to Haaretz, the Mossad director, along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, argued that the Israeli army should resume its attacks on Gaza after the initial phase of the potential cease-fire and hostage exchange agreement.

Barnea asserted that the recent increase in attacks on Gaza had "positively contributed" to the negotiations with Hamas.

On Thursday, Netanyahu argued that any cease-fire and hostage exchange agreement “must allow Tel Aviv to return to combat.”

The proposed hostages swap agreement, indirectly negotiated between Israel and Hamas, consists of three stages.

The proposed deal includes an immediate cease-fire, the release of women, elderly, and injured hostages, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza, increased humanitarian aid, the reconstruction of basic services, and the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes throughout the Gaza Strip, including northern Gaza, with the international community providing the necessary housing support.

So far, efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas have been hampered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of Hamas' call to halt hostilities.

Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.

Over 38,300 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 88,300 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Nine months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi