Tension Inside Israel as Hostage Negotiations Approach: Emergency Meeting for Netanyahu and Warnings Against Failing the Deal

Israeli Channel 12 reported on Saturday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for an emergency meeting, as internal pressures regarding the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas are escalating.  

In this context, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported concerns from the brother of one of the soldiers held captive in Gaza that Netanyahu's office might "hinder the deal again as happened in the past," reflecting the increasing anxiety among the families of the detainees.  

For his part, former war council member Gadi Eisenkot emphasized that this is the "last opportunity to bring back the hostages," calling for difficult decisions to be made if necessary, referring to the need to move forward with the negotiations and not miss them.  

These developments come as international and regional efforts continue to finalize an agreement that would end the hostage crisis, amid divisions within the Israeli government regarding the terms of the deal and its political implications.