US Envoy Details Hostage Negotiations, Denies Israeli Claims
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Brett McGurk, a senior US official, stated that Hamas's initial proposal to release all hostages was unrealistic and that no Israeli government would have accepted it. He credited Prime Minister Netanyahu's negotiation strategy for the initial release of women and children. McGurk also refuted claims of a missed deal in May 2024, attributing Hamas's lack of response to Iranian influence. The article also briefly discusses the changing landscape of conservatism and concerns about rising antisemitism.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Senior US official Brett McGurk called claims of Hamas's initial willingness to release all hostages "complete bullshit."
- McGurk stated that no Israeli government would have accepted Hamas's initial proposal for a full hostage-prisoner exchange.
- He credited Prime Minister Netanyahu's approach for the initial release of women and children, calling it morally crucial.
- McGurk refuted Israeli media reports that Netanyahu missed a deal in May 2024, stating Hamas never responded.
- He revealed President Biden considered halting arms to Israel in April 2024, but believed only Netanyahu could withstand such pressure.
- The article also touches on a debate about the evolution of conservatism and rising antisemitism.
Brett McGurk, a senior official in the Biden administration and the US representative for hostage negotiations, has refuted claims that Hamas was initially willing to release all hostages. McGurk stated that the idea of Hamas agreeing to release everyone at the start of the conflict is "complete bullshit." He explained that Hamas's initial proposal involved releasing all hostages in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners, an unlimited ceasefire, and a return to the pre-October 7th status quo, a deal no Israeli government would have accepted.
McGurk highlighted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to the initial November 2023 negotiations, particularly regarding the release of women and children, was crucial. He noted that Hamas considered young women their most valuable asset, and the decision not to compromise on their release was vital to avoid a de facto death sentence for them. McGurk also addressed reports of a missed deal in May 2024, asserting that Hamas never responded to the proposal Israel had agreed to, contrary to Israeli media claims. He suggested that Iran signaled Hamas not to compromise, and Supreme Leader Khamenei delivered a provocative speech.
Furthermore, McGurk revealed that President Biden was prepared to take "drastic steps" against Israel, including halting arms supplies, in early April 2024, following Iran's missile attack. He believes that only Netanyahu could have withstood the pressure from the Biden administration, and that any halt in US support would have hardened Hamas's position, not ended the conflict. McGurk also pointed to negative US public opinion and actions by Israeli figures as contributing to Hamas's hardened stance.
The article also touches upon a separate discussion about the evolution of conservatism, with figures like Yoram Hazony and Kevin Roberts debating the shift from the previous "neoconservative" wave to a "national conservatism" focused on issues like borders, national identity, and free trade. They expressed concerns about rising antisemitism, particularly within the Democratic Party and among certain right-wing figures, linking it to socialist ideologies and conspiracy theories.
Mentioned
