Netanyahu Signals Willingness to Offer Concessions for Hostage Deal; Ben Gvir Criticizes Humanitarian City Plan
Israeli government sources revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed readiness to make significant concessions to advance a potential hostage exchange agreement with Hamas. The move is being described as the most flexible stance taken by Netanyahu since the onset of the conflict in Gaza.
According to participants in a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet held Sunday evening, Netanyahu conveyed a genuine interest in reaching an agreement, even if it involves a withdrawal from the strategic Morag corridor between Rafah and Khan Younis—a position he had reportedly not considered in the past.
Sources indicated that negotiations underway in Doha have intensified, with both parties reportedly discussing updated mapping proposals. One official present at the meeting stated: “Even if the deal is not finalized within a day or two, the general direction points toward an agreement. It may simply require a few more days.”
Humanitarian City Project in Rafah Faces Obstacles
The meeting also addressed plans for the proposed “humanitarian city” in Rafah, southern Gaza, which, according to Israeli military estimates, could take over a year to complete and cost between $10 billion and $15 billion. These figures contrast with earlier projections that envisioned the construction of a large camp housing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians within six months.
Netanyahu reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with these estimates and requested a revised plan featuring a more realistic timeline, reduced costs, and improved feasibility.
Internal Disputes and Allegations of Political Motives
Some participants in the meeting voiced concerns that the Israeli military may be deliberately complicating the humanitarian city initiative by proposing impractical plans, particularly amid growing international scrutiny and criticism of the project.
The session also raised the issue of funding, with projections suggesting the project could cost tens of billions of shekels. The proposed camp could accommodate up to 500,000 Palestinians, with no provision for return to northern Gaza.
Ben Gvir Denounces Project as Political Ploy
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir strongly criticized the humanitarian city proposal, calling it a political maneuver intended to justify what he described as a surrender deal with Hamas. “This agreement would involve a military withdrawal from territories captured at the cost of soldiers’ lives, the release of hundreds of prisoners, and the opportunity for Hamas to regain its strength. There is no room for political maneuvers in the battle to achieve complete victory,” he stated.
Read also: Gaza Strip: Over 150 Airstrikes in 24 Hours Amid Growing Humanitarian Concerns
