“We are desperate. With this government configuration, there can be no agreement,” retired IDF Major General Nitzan Alon, who is in charge of prisoner affairs, said in secret talks with liaison officers for prisoner families, N12 reported. Alon blamed the current government structure for being a major obstacle to a hostage release agreement. “The agreement I am pushing for includes the gradual return of all hostages,” Alon stressed, according to the report.
Negotiations on a hostage deal are continuing, with the War Cabinet due to convene on Sunday night to discuss a new proposal submitted by the Mossad director to the intermediaries.
During closed-door talks last week, Alon reportedly told liaison officers: “We are in despair. With this government configuration, there can be no agreement. The agreement I am advocating includes the gradual return of all hostages. Hamas is adamant that the agreement also includes an end to fighting. I told the prime minister that fighting can resume at any time.”
The war must end
An IDF spokesman said: “Retired Major General Nitzan Alon is working on the return of prisoners under the direction of the political hierarchy and his comments were taken out of context.”
After Alon's statement was released, representatives of the prisoners' families protested at Begin Gate, declaring: “It is clear to everyone that the prisoners cannot be brought home unless the war is ended. However, the government is not interested in bringing the prisoners home and continues the war without setting realistic goals. Government officials know what is needed and are adamantly refusing. If they cannot bring our loved ones home after leaving them behind on October 7, then they should let the people know. It seems we have no choice but to replace the government to bring our loved ones home.”
The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement in response to the report: “Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly given the negotiating team broad authority to release the prisoners, but Sinwar continues to demand an end to the war, a withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip and the survival of Hamas, repeatedly repeating the October 7 atrocities. Prime Minister Netanyahu firmly opposes this. Reports from within the negotiating team will only harden Hamas' position, hurt the families, and delay the release of the hostages.”
