PM tells White House envoy he wants deal, as long as red lines aren’t crossed

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets White House Middle East czar Brett McGurk in Jerusalem, July 10, 2024. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets White House Middle East czar Brett McGurk in Jerusalem, July 10, 2024. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells White House Middle East czar Brett McGurk that he is “committed to a deal, as long as Israel’s red lines are maintained,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

On Sunday, Netanyahu released a list of 4 “nonnegotiables” in hostage talks with Hamas — that any potential deal must prevent weapons from being smuggled into Gaza from Egypt; must “allow Israel to go back to fighting until all the goals of the war are achieved”; and cannot allow “the return of thousands of armed terrorists to the north of the Gaza Strip.” He also said Israel would maximize the number of living hostages Hamas turns over.

Israel’s intelligence chiefs are in Doha for a four-way summit with the US, Egyptian, and Qatari officials leading negotiation efforts.

McGurk is joined in the Jerusalem meeting by US Ambassador Jack Lew, while Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer joins Netanyahu.

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