International newspapers said that the intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at defusing tension in the region are not pushing Israel to abandon the state of maximum alert it is experiencing in anticipation of possible strikes.
The Washington Post indicated that Israel remains on high alert to respond to any strikes, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to defuse regional tensions and avoid a comprehensive war in the region.
The newspaper quoted American officials as expecting that the attack might be imminent, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed preparations for counter-strikes following the killing of senior officials in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
For its part, the New York Times said that Netanyahu's disagreement with US President Joe Biden is an extension of his disagreement with senior Israeli security officials over a quick deal with Hamas.
Israeli officials were quoted as saying that the prevailing assessment is that an agreement can be reached within days if Netanyahu sets aside some of his conditions, stressing that he “is still holding out for personal, not national, reasons.”
Netanyahu wants guarantees
In Israel, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper revealed that Netanyahu is waiting for a letter of American guarantees to resume the war if the prisoner exchange deal and ceasefire falter. The newspaper pointed out his intention to demand the disarmament of Hamas and the removal of its leaders as a condition for moving to the second stage of the deal.
According to the newspaper, most of those concerned with the course of the negotiations concluded that Netanyahu was about to miss a strategic opportunity due to personal political calculations.
In Foreign Policy magazine, an opinion piece noted that “Israel’s chances of recovering the hostages are slim, despite the desire of most Israelis to reach a deal, including the generals.”
According to the article, “Netanyahu is working to sabotage any efforts to reach an agreement for the sake of his battle for political survival after the October 7 attack, as he has shown a willingness to sacrifice even the basic principles of the country and its most vulnerable citizens.
In Britain, interviews conducted by the Guardian with detainees released from Israeli detention centers revealed that violence, extreme hunger and humiliation “have become normal in the Israeli prison system.”
The human rights organization B'Tselem reported, after investigations and interviews, that Israeli prisons have become torture camps after the death of about 60 detainees since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, compared to the death of one or two people before it.