WSJ: Israeli army chief backs deal with Hamas to free hostages Despite Netanyahu’s Resistance

Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi has expressed support for a deal with the radical Palestinian group Hamas to secure the release of Israeli hostages, said a source familiar with the matter.

Halevi believes that continuing military operations in the Gaza Strip poses a serious risk to the lives of the hostages, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal.

He is also said to question the effectiveness of further efforts to weaken Hamas solely through military means.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist on the need to remove Hamas from power in the enclave and fully disarm the group, the report notes.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Dozens of hostages have since been released or rescued by Israeli forces, while 50 remain in captivity, including about 30 who Israel believes are dead.

The proposal would reportedly see about half of the living hostages and around half of the dead hostages returned to Israel over 60 days, in five separate releases.

Eight living hostages would be freed on the first day and two released on the 50th day, according to an Arab diplomat from one of the mediating countries, it is reported.

Five dead hostages would be returned on the seventh day, five more on the 30th day and eight more on the 60th day.

That would leave 22 hostages still held in Gaza, 10 of them believed to be alive. It is not clear whether Israel or Hamas would determine who is to be released.

Hamas has sought guarantees that the initial truce would lead to a total end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

A Hamas official has said Mr Trump has guaranteed that the ceasefire will extend beyond 60 days if necessary to reach a peace deal, but there is no confirmation from the US of such a guarantee.

By Khagan Isayev