From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Ben Gvir: ‘I warned Netanyahu’ and he promised not to agree to ‘reckless’ hostage deal
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised not to agree to a “reckless” hostage deal, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says in a statement, after a meeting between the two.
“I warned the prime minister [of the consequences] if, God forbid, Israel does not enter Rafah, if, God forbid, we end the war, if, God forbid, there will be a reckless deal,” Ben Gvir says in a video statement.
“The prime minister heard my words, promised that Israel would go into Rafah, promised that the war would not end, and promised that there would be no reckless deal. I welcome these things. I think the prime minister understands very well what it will mean if these things do not take place.”
Ben Gvir met with Netanyahu to discuss the deal and the IDF’s looming Rafah operation ahead of this afternoon’s general cabinet meeting. Earlier, the prime minister stated that Israel “will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there — whether or not there is a deal — in order to achieve total victory.”
The Times of Israel Community.