Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir risked derailing hopes of peace in the Middle East by declaring he wants to see Hamas ”destroyed”. Speaking in Jerusalem he said: “I only pray that our Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) will allow a complete victory in Gaza…to destroy Hamas. With God’s help we will return the hostages, and we will win a complete victory.”
His inflammatory statement came as Israel and Hamas negotiators exchanged lists of the prisoners and hostages who would be released under the terms of any peace deal. Negotiations currently taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, are focussed on the “mechanisms for implementing the end of the war, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners”. The release of 48 Hamas-held hostages – 20 of whom are thought to be dead – and 1,950 Palestinian prisoners are critical parts of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point pathway to peace plan. Under the blueprint, Hamas must free all Israeli hostages, dead and alive, before Israel frees 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained since the 2023 attacks, including all women and children.
President Trump wanted an agreement reached by the end of the week, but the implementation of the first phase of his roadmap has not yet been agreed.
As talks continued Israel, which should have suspended its blitz of Gaza according to the red lines in President Trump’s plan, continued to pound the territory.
The Gaza health ministry, which is controlled by the Palestinian militant group – responsible for the October 7 atrocity in 2023 that left 1,200 Israelis dead – claims 67,183 have been killed in the enclave.
Meanwhile, Turkey President Recep Erdogan said Israel remains the main obstacle to peace.
He said: “Peace is not a bird with a single wing. Putting the entire burden of peace on Hamas and Palestinians is not a fair, correct or realistic approach. Israel must stop its bombardment of Gaza.”
Israel has only suspended “certain bombings” – despite repeated calls from President Trump to stop its strikes entirely.