Israeli security agencies urge PM to soften stance on deal with Hamas

Heads of the Israeli security agencies have urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to soften his stance on a deal with the Palestinian Hamas movement, but he refused.

The security officials told Netanyahu that, in their view, Hamas was unlikely to abandon its demands for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the cessation of the war, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

They also advised the Israeli prime minister that if the government was interested in a deal, it would need to soften its current position.

However, Netanyahu refused to end the war in exchange for a deal on the release of hostages. The Israeli prime minister justified his position by arguing that such a deal with Hamas would allow the movement to continue its existence.    

Earlier, in late October, the Belgian Foreign Ministry stated that Israel had ignored its international obligations and set a "destructive precedent" by passing a law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

By Naila Huseynova