Blinken pushes for prisoner exchange deal with Israeli cabinet centrists

Tel Aviv, Israel — AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Thursday discussed ways to secure the release of Gaza detainees with moderates in the Israeli war cabinet a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the offer for a conditional cease-fire by Hamas.

Blinken met in Tel Aviv with Benny Gantz and Gabi Eisenkot, two ultra-hardline former military chiefs who joined Netanyahu’s war cabinet after October 7.

Blinken has shuttled around the Middle East on his fifth tour since Israel’s attack on Gaza, and brought to Israel a response via Qatar from Hamas to a possible prisoner exchange deal.

However, Netanyahu outright rejected Hamas’s demands for a cease-fire as part of the deal and vowed to expand military operations to the overcrowded southern Gaza city of Rafah, where millions of displaced Palestinians have been taking shelter.

However, Blinken said he still saw space for negotiations to improve on the deal and secure the release of the prisoners.

Blinken also discussed on Thursday the talks for a prisoner exchange in a meeting with Israel’s main opposition leader Yair Lapid.

“It’s good to see how committed this group is to the hostages, to solving the situation, to figure out ways to promote peace,” the former prime minister said, referring to efforts by Blinken and US officials.

Israel’s war on Gaza began on October 7, as a result of which at least 27,840 people, mostly women and children have perished, according to the Gaza health ministry.

It is believed that there are 132 Israeli prisoners still in the custody of Hamas. However, all offers made by Hamas for an agreement returning the prisoners in exchange for a cease-fire have been rejected by Netanyahu and his hardline cabinet.