Netanyahu to hostage families: Hamas will pick who goes free; Israel will negotiate for permanent truce

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told hostage families last night that Hamas will determine which hostages will be released during the 60-day truce, a source present at the Washington meeting tells The Times of Israel.

The source says Netanyahu told the families that as far as Israel is concerned, all of the hostages are considered “humanitarian” — meaning there is not a prioritization of some hostages over the others, as the well-being of each of them is equally dire.

However, two sources tell Haaretz that intelligence on the conditions of the hostages is being given to Netanyahu’s office, and that the political leadership will decide on the order of release.

Netanyahu told the hostage families that once the 60-day truce under discussion enters into effect, Israel will immediately hold negotiations on the terms for a permanent ceasefire — something he refused to do during the previous hostage deal, which led to its collapse in March.

“From the time the first eight living hostages are released until the last two living hostages are released… we will work to bring the entire war to an end,” Channel 12 quotes Netanyahu as having said.

However, the source present at the meeting tells The Times of Israel that Netanyahu insisted that he would not budge from his demands for Hamas to surrender, give up its arms and agree for its leaders to go into exile — conditions that the Palestinian terror group has long rejected.

While the hostage families expressed their opposition to the partial deal being negotiated — which will only see the release of roughly half of the hostages — Netanyahu asserted that a comprehensive deal is not possible, according to the source.

When families expressed concern that this could well lead to 22 hostages remaining in Gaza, Netanyahu asserted that he would keep fighting for their release, the source present at the half-hour-plus meeting recalls.

“There are things I cannot talk to you about. There are things being done quietly, and I will not share them with you because they must remain secret,” Channel 12 quotes Netanyahu as having said. “We are on the right path. Things are moving forward. It will take a little more time, but be patient.”