Netanyahu may be toughening rhetoric to cause Hamas to end hostage deal talks — report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be toughening his public rhetoric about his red lines for a potential hostage deal with the aim of causing Hamas to halt the negotiations, which would let Israel go on with the war while casting the blame for the talks’ collapse on the terror group, Haaretz cites an unnamed official involved in the talks as saying.

Netanyahu has repeated in recent days — under intense pressure from his far-right political allies — that no hostage deal will bring about the end of the war, the exit of IDF troops from Gaza, or the release of thousands of Palestinian security prisoners.

Hamas has insisted that any deal end the war and not be negotiated under fire.

Haaretz says Netanyahu’s recent rhetoric has surprised some negotiation officials.