Israeli media reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added new conditions to the prisoner exchange deal negotiations with the Palestinian resistance, while Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant made statements hostile to Netanyahu regarding the negotiations.

Israeli radio reported that Netanyahu is demanding to know the names of the 33 Israeli hostages who will be released in the first phase of the deal, and the right to object to the release of the names of the important Palestinian prisoners in this phase.

Channel 12 Israel said that Netanyahu had tried, over the past few days, to explore the positions of his government partners regarding the prisoner exchange deal, and that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had informed him that the proposed deal was unacceptable, and that he would withdraw from the government if it was approved.

The channel indicated that Netanyahu is taking into consideration the possibility that Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will withdraw from the current government formation.

Channel 13 Israel quoted a senior security official describing the upcoming Qatar meeting, next Thursday, as the last chance to return the prisoners alive. The spokesman also confirmed that Netanyahu said during closed talks that he does not trust the negotiating team.

For its part, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that the Political and Security Council did not discuss the "hostage" deal last Thursday, and the negotiating delegation was not invited to the meeting.

Galant's statements

In a closed meeting in the parliament (Knesset), Galant said, "Our duty is to create the conditions for the return of the detainees through military pressure and a deal, even if it is in more than one stage," adding that "Israel is at a crossroads between a settlement and an exchange deal or escalation."

In a clear escalation of his rhetoric towards Netanyahu, Galant said, "Israel is the reason for the delay in concluding a deal to return the kidnapped soldiers, and talk of an absolute victory is pure nonsense."

In response to Galant, Netanyahu's office said, "When Galant adopts anti-Israel rhetoric, he harms the chances of reaching a deal, and he should have attacked (Hamas leader Yahya) Sinwar, who refuses to send a delegation to the negotiations and who remains the obstacle to the deal."

"Israel has only one choice, which is to achieve victory, and these directives of the prime minister are binding on everyone, including Galant," the office said.

In the same context, Israeli Channel 12 quoted people close to Netanyahu as saying that the Prime Minister is not currently thinking of dismissing Galant despite the dispute.

Yedioth Ahronoth also quoted people close to Netanyahu as saying that the prime minister is not affected by criticism and realizes that Galant cannot be dismissed in the war.

Lapid's criticism

For his part, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said that the October 7 attack occurred because the judicial coup led by Netanyahu weakened security in Israel. He added that this is the right time to go for a deal and return the prisoners.

Lapid considered that there are parties in Netanyahu's government calling for an eternal war, and that the world looks at them with astonishment and distances itself from Israel. He called for forming a regional alliance against Iran with Arab countries, which would also be part of the solution in Gaza.

Hamas's position

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) demanded that the mediators present a plan to implement what the movement accepted on July 2, based on the vision of US President Joe Biden, and Security Council Resolution 2735, and obligate Israel to do so, instead of going to a new round of negotiations.

The movement warned, in a statement, that entering into new rounds of negotiations or proposals would provide cover for Israel to continue its aggression, and give it more time to perpetuate the war of genocide against the Palestinian people.

The movement stressed its keenness, from the beginning, to make the efforts of the mediating brothers in Qatar and Egypt successful, to reach a ceasefire agreement that would end the war of genocide in Gaza, noting that it had held several rounds of negotiations, and provided all the necessary flexibility and positivity, to achieve the goals and interests of the Palestinian people and stop their bloodshed.

Haaretz newspaper quoted Israeli sources as saying that Hamas's rejection of the new proposals does not mean the collapse of talks with Israel.

The sources added that Hamas's call for mediators to present a plan to implement Biden's proposals is a tactical move aimed at applying pressure before resuming negotiations.