Yahya Sinwar, the newly appointed Hamas chief and alleged mastermind of the October 7 attacks, is now advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza, according to mediators.
Sinwar, who had previously urged his group to continue the conflict until Israel’s destruction, has requested Egyptian and Qatari assistance to facilitate an end to the fighting as hostage negotiations progress.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed that the war will persist until Hamas is defeated, faces increasing pressure to consider a cease-fire.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, representing families of those kidnapped by Hamas, has issued a statement urging for an immediate cease-fire to secure the release of all hostages. “A deal is the only path to bring all hostages home. Time is running out,” the group said.
Despite Netanyahu’s staunch opposition to a cease-fire that would leave Hamas in place in Gaza, sources suggest he may be nearing a decision. However, the terms are not yet finalized, and the situation remains fluid. “Nobody knows what Bibi wants,” an Israeli source told CNN.
Internal political pressures complicate Netanyahu’s position. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the US-backed cease-fire proposal as a “surrender” and urged Netanyahu to reject it. “I call on the prime minister not to fall into this trap,” Smotrich said on Friday.
The proposed deal includes an immediate cessation of hostilities and a framework for a hostage exchange, aiming to release the remaining 120 captives. However, past negotiations have faltered over disagreements on the language, with Palestinians seeking assurances of a permanent end to the conflict.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign is in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths. The upcoming meetings in Cairo may offer further clarity on the potential for a cease-fire.
