GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 467

Hamas Accepts Deal

Ceasefire Deal Reached

According to earlier reports, a deal was in place that Israel agreed to and all that was needed was Hamas to sign off on it. Apparently Hamas did agree as we read in a report from the Jewish News Syndicate:

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal, according to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump said, as we will hear that his threats made the difference:

“This epic ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November, as it signaled to the entire world that my administration would seek peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies,” Trump stated on Wednesday.

He went on to say something Hamas won’t be happy to hear and what could be on the other side of the deal whenever talks break down as I think they will in the second and third phases:

“I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones,” he added, noting that his national security team, through the efforts of Steve Witkoff, his nominee for special Middle East envoy, “will continue to work closely with Israel and our allies to make sure Gaza never again becomes a terrorist safe haven.”

The incoming president is probably too optimistic, but he talks like this all the time which isn’t a bad thing:

“We will continue promoting peace through strength throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the historic Abraham Accords,” Trump stated. “This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the world.”

The deal was agreed to in writing although I wonder how the de facto Hamas leader pulled that off while he is in hiding in Gaza:

An Israeli source told the country’s Channel 12 News that the Palestinian terrorist group committed to the deal in writing, and Al Jazeera reported that a Hamas delegation, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, delivered the formal approval to mediators in Doha and Cairo.

The IDF is getting things in place for the deal:

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that it had started preparations for the return of the hostages, dubbing the operation “Wings of Freedom.”

Praising Trump

Although I think this is compromised deal since Trump’s words were that all the hostages would be released by January 20th, the President-elect is getting props for getting it done:

“President Trump hasn’t even been sworn in yet and he’s already scoring massive wins,” stated Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.).

Other representatives echoed those sentiments:

“Earlier this month, Donald Trump warned, ‘If those hostages aren’t back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East,'” stated Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.). “Now, hostages are being released. That’s peace through strength, and he’s not even in office yet.”

“I’m encouraged by reports that Hamas has agreed to release hostages,” wrote Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.). “We must keep up the pressure until all hostages are released and returned to their families.”

Although Israel needs to go through the process of crossing all their Ts and dotting their Is, it looks like it is a done deal:

Preparations are reportedly underway in Jerusalem to convene the Security Cabinet, which consists of senior ministers, and the full government to approve the agreement on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that he is cutting his diplomatic visit to Europe short and will return to Jerusalem on Wednesday night “to participate in the expected discussions and votes in the Security Cabinet and government.”

One member of Netanyahu’s party urged everyone to sign off on the agreement as well:

Israeli coalition whip Miki Zohar, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party who also serves as sports minister, urged fellow ministers to vote in favor of the agreement on Wednesday night.

“There is no greater commandment than redeeming captives and there is nothing greater than saving lives,” Zohar wrote on X. “Now that Israel has secured the conditions for the security of IDF soldiers and Israeli citizens, it is a duty for each government minister to vote in favor.”

Plans for the hostage’s return are also in the works:

As the news of the deal unfolded, Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office announced that the head of state held a meeting with International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger.

The NGO previously helped provide transportation services during the November 2023 ceasefire, during which Hamas released 105 hostages.

“The Red Cross team briefed the President on the preparations for the transfer of the hostages and the various challenges they face,” Herzog’s office stated, adding that the president “emphasized the utmost importance and sensitivity of this mission.”

The Details

The deal is not very different from what was on the table last May which is why Trump is seen as getting it done by his strong words to Hamas:

The Wall Street Journal reported that mediators ironed out the deal terms on Tuesday night but awaited Hamas’s approval. The Journal reported, citing Arab sources, that Mohammed Sinwar, the de facto leader of Hamas in Gaza, gave his “in principle” approval to the terms of the deal.

Sinwar’s agreement reportedly came mere hours after Hamas publicly announced for the first time that negotiations were in their “final stages.”

Here are the basics:

The parties agreed to a six-week initial ceasefire phase that includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages in exchange for Palestinian terrorists held in Israeli prisons, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters.

The rest of the hostages will hopefully be released in the next phase, but it isn’t guaranteed since there’s a little over two weeks of talks:

The first stage will reportedly see the release of 33 hostages, including all women, children and men over 50. Talks on the second phase will begin 16 days after the implementation. This phase is reportedly expected to conclude with the release of all remaining living hostages, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

The negotiations in the second phase is full of land mines the biggest of which is a permanent ceasefire allowing Hamas to survive. This really tells me that there will only be one phase. Just to thorough, what is on the docket for the third phase? The landmine there is who will be in charge of Gaza. Two of the three are supporters of terrorists and the third walks out when the Prime Minister of Israel speaks. I’m totally sure Israel will agree to that:

The third and last phase is expected to address the return of the bodies and the start of reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip under the auspices of Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.

I’ve said in the past that I am not opposed to a hostage deal happening, but I see so many red flags that I wonder what Trump offered Netanyahu to accept this deal, a deal he isn’t committing to so far as we read in an article from The Times Of Israel:

Amid the flurry of speeches and responses to the newly announced hostage-ceasefire deal, a source in the Prime Minister’s Office indicates that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be making any public comments just yet.

“The prime minister will only speak to the public when the deal is complete and closed,” the source says.

This is odd and makes me wonder if he is waiting to see what the Israeli side of the process holds. Or perhaps he knows what will happen in the security cabinet’s vote and it may just hold everything up there. He also knows there are people in the government like Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich who could argue that the deal is not good for Israel or those who gave their lives to take control of areas being ceded let alone future terrorists attacks by those being released out of prisons. Those two alone could kill the deal so that could also be why the PM is being silent. Or could it be because he has a secret plan to rescue all of the hostages and just needs Hamas to let down their guard. Personally, I think Netanyahu now needs to be the leader God meant for him to be and end this war with all the terrorists being sent to meet their 72 virgins.