Khaberni - News in Israel conflict this Monday on allowing about 200 members of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to leave the army-controlled areas in Gaza Strip.
The private newspaper "Haaretz" quoted an Israeli political source saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will not allow safe passage for 200 Hamas members located in the army-controlled areas to territories under Palestinian control".
"Haaretz" mentioned that the fighters "are stuck in the area under military control in Gaza after a ceasefire came into effect". It pointed out that mediators "proposed that Israel could allow them to move to the area under Palestinian control in the sector", without naming the mediators.
It quoted the same source saying that Netanyahu's decision not to allow the passage of Hamas elements came after pressure exerted by the National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Provided that they surrender their weapons
Conversely, Israeli Channel 12 surmised that Israel would allow 200 Hamas members to leave areas in southern Gaza Strip. It added, "We learned that Israel might soon agree to their return to Palestinian territories, provided that they surrender their weapons".
The channel quoted two Israeli security sources saying, "The political leadership will agree to their return, also because this exceptional step will help provide better protection for the lives of soldiers in the area." One of the sources added, "Their return will also enable Israel to search for bodies of other abductees that might be there".
The channel also quoted another unnamed Israeli security source, "We are doing this to protect the lives of our soldiers and disarmament, and this will also enable us to search for additional hostages."
