Practically every week after the military captured Al-Shifa, nevertheless, Mr. Gallant and his allies backed the cease-fire — giving it overwhelming help on the cupboard desk — partly as a result of they believed that the choice to seize a bigger space of Gaza Metropolis had allowed Israel to assemble extra intelligence in regards to the lacking hostages, in addition to weaken Hamas additional. In Mr. Gallant’s view, that gave Israel a stronger place within the negotiations and enabled it to safe a greater deal, in line with a senior official accustomed to Mr. Gallant’s perspective.
“What led to the result we hope we will reach in the near future is the determined, professional, precise and deadly action of the Israel Defense Forces,” Mr. Gallant mentioned within the cupboard, in line with a written transcript of his remarks supplied by his ministry.
Different wavering ministers got here round to the thought of a cease-fire as a result of their authorities colleagues satisfied them that they’d help the resumption of preventing after just a few days’ pause. Bezalel Smotrich, the far-right finance minister, initially mentioned he wouldn’t help the deal, however modified his thoughts throughout the cupboard assembly, in line with a recorded assertion he supplied to an Israeli journalist.
To win over Mr. Smotrich and others, the cupboard formally introduced that “the fighting in the Gaza Strip will continue” after the cease-fire.
Yaakov Peri, a former head of the Shin Wager, the Israeli inside safety service, mentioned Israel needed to settle for the deal.
“Every hostage that Hamas wants to return, we can’t refuse,” Mr. Peri mentioned, which gave Hamas a trump card in negotiations. Mr. Peri worries, nevertheless, that on this deal, “the chance for mishaps is high.” Even a minor incident may jeopardize the cease-fire, he added.
However regardless of the federal government’s plan to proceed attacking Hamas after the cease-fire, Mr. Peri will not be sure that may occur.
“When you stop a war, it’s difficult to revive the momentum,” he mentioned.
