Mossad chief backs PM’s ‘non-negotiable’ hostage deal terms, says Israel cannot win war without them – report

Amid ramped-up hostage deal negotiations in Qatar and Cairo, Ynet reports that Mossad chief David Barnea defended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “non-negotiable” conditions for a deal, and told a security cabinet meeting that without them, Israel will not win its war against Hamas.

According to the report, Barnea told the meeting’s attendees that “without the clauses that Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on, we will not be able to renew the war [after the deal], and without it, we will not win and we will not return all of the hostages.

“This is what is needed for the good of the State of Israel,” Barnea added.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu’s office introduced four non-negotiable conditions that he said must be met in order for Israel to agree to a truce and hostage release deal.

The demands declared that:

1. “Any deal will allow Israel to return to fighting until its war aims are achieved.”

2. “Weapons smuggling to Hamas from the Gaza-Egypt border will not be possible.”

3. “The return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip will not be possible.”

4. “Israel will maximize the number of living hostages who will be returned from Hamas captivity.”

Barnea addressed the security cabinet upon his return to Israel from negotiations in Qatar. Following Barnea’s return, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar departed Israel for Cairo to continue negotiations there.

According to Haaretz, Barnea told the security cabinet that insisting Israel can resume fighting in the terms of the deal will give the country leverage to prevent Hamas from changing the identities of the hostages it intends to release.

The clause will also ensure that the deal doesn’t fall apart before reaching the second phase, Haaretz adds, citing unnamed sources familiar with the contents of the security cabinet meeting.