Hamas deal divides Israel politicians, seen as ‘great harm’, ‘painful’: Analysis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached a truce agreement with Hamas, backed by his far-right coalition partners. Although Netanyahu’s cabinet approved the truce, there are some members, including Minister for National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who expressed opposition to the concessions made to Hamas. Ben-Gvir believes that the pause in fighting will allow Hamas to resupply and reformulate itself. He also mentioned a past deal in 2011 where more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed in return for an Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas for five years.

Despite concerns raised by some cabinet members, representatives of the Religious Zionist party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, voted in favor of the truce after expressing skepticism. Orit Strock, the Settlements and National Missions Minister, also voted for the proposal after thorough reviews and thorough question answering.

The truce agreement, mediated by Qatar, includes a multi-day truce and the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, among other measures. President Isaac Herzog acknowledged the reservations of some cabinet members but supported the government’s decision, stating that it aligns with Jewish and Israeli values of securing the freedom of those held captive.

The attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October, which resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of around 240 people, has divided opinions on the right path forward for Israel. Critics have accused Israel of indiscriminate punishment of the population in Gaza, as shown by the cutting off of access to food, fuel, and electricity for Gaza’s residents and the destruction of entire neighborhoods.

Netanyahu clarified that the truce does not mean the end of the war, and the Israeli military will continue its operations after the pause in fighting. The conditions in Gaza have reached a breaking point, leading to pressure for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian assistance into the enclave. Some Israelis, including families of the kidnapped, also called for prioritizing the return of the hostages.

Israel’s high court rejected a petition by the Almagor Terror Victims Association, which argued that the truce would endanger the country’s security. The petition claimed that releasing some captives and not all violated the right to equality, but the court disagreed.

Overall, the news article provides information about the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, including the opposition from some cabinet members and the concerns raised by critics of Israeli actions in Gaza. However, the article lacks diverse perspectives and voices from Hamas or the Palestinians. The sources cited in the article are reliable news outlets, but the information presented may be biased towards the Israeli government’s perspective. This could potentially contribute to a limited understanding of the complex situation and the impact on both Israeli and Palestinian populations. Additionally, the absence of a comprehensive analysis of the political landscape and the prevalence of fake news limits the reader’s understanding of how these factors may influence the public’s perception of the information.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/22/hamas-truce-receives-mixed-reactions-from-israeli-politicians