Israeli Military: Hostage Deal Pause is Not a Ceasefire
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Israeli military is staying ready to fight despite a pause in major operations and ongoing hostage negotiations in Egypt.
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir stressed to troops in the Gaza Strip’s Netzarim Corridor that the “operation is not over” and they must be prepared for combat “at any time.” He made it clear there is “no ceasefire,” only a temporary change in the operational situation, allowing military achievements to be leveraged for political gain. Zamir explicitly warned that the army will “return to fight” if diplomatic efforts fail.
Negotiators Head to Egypt
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent negotiators to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for talks on a potential hostage deal. The delegation is set to depart tomorrow and will be led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Netanyahu said the success of the deal depends on Hamas, stating, “Now the onus is on Hamas.” He added that if the group refuses to cooperate, he has the full backing of US President Donald Trump to “act forcefully against Hamas.”
A Hamas delegation, led by Khalil Al-Hayya, is also expected to join the talks with representatives from the US and Qatar.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the immediate return to hostilities hinging on the success of the talks.
