Israel chief of staff calls for end to Gaza war, prisoner exchange deal with Hamas

Israel’s Chief of Staff, General Herzi Halevi, has said that it’s time to end the war in Gaza and reach a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, Sama news agency has reported, citing Israeli Channel 12. The Hebrew-language channel revealed details of a meeting between Halevi and families of hostages held by Palestinian resistance forces in the Gaza Strip.

According to Channel 12, sources said that the general recently met with relatives of Israeli prisoners and informed them that, “The time has come to work towards a deal that could bring an end to the war.” He assured the families that he had no concerns over concluding the conflict through a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

“We have achieved numerous accomplishments,” explained Halevi. “We are strong enough, and we must also be brave enough to reach an agreement.”

Meanwhile, Israeli sources noted that, during a brief meeting held on Sunday evening with security officials and several ministers, the coordinator for prisoners and missing persons in the Israeli army, Major General Nitzan Alon, made it clear that without a shift in Israel’s approach to Gaza, no agreement would be reached and Hamas would not alter its stance.

Source » middleeastmonitor.com