Israel’s chief negotiator for hostages and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, proposed offering Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar safe passage out of Gaza in exchange for the 101 hostages in the terror group's captivity, a Tuesday Bloomberg interview revealed.
According to the report, the proposal to allow Sinwar's escape from Gaza has been on the table for two days, yet it is unclear what Hamas's response has been and whether they would accept it.
The offer was made with the intent of developing new solutions for a deal as ongoing negotiations "look more and more dim," Hirsch explained.
It should be noted that Israeli officials have been offering Sinwar mixed proposals behind the scenes of either passage out of the strip or immunity.
“I’m ready to provide safe passage to Sinwar, his family, whoever wants to join him. We want the hostages back. We want demilitarization, de-radicalization of course — a new system that will manage Gaza," Hirsch stated.
“In parallel, I must work on plans B, C, and D because I must bring the hostages back home,” Hirsch added. “The clock is ticking; the hostages do not have time."
Hirsch also explained that until this point in negotiations, Hamas "has sought to dictate terms rather than negotiate."
Hamas still to pay 'high price'
Regarding the six hostages that were murdered in a Rafah tunnel by Hamas terrorists at the end of August, Hirsch emphasized that "there will be a price for these murders."
The report also noted that Israel, in the past, has discussed the option of allowing Hamas leaders to have freedom through exile.
In May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in the podcast "Call Me Back" that such an option has always been discussed, but noted that he thought "the most important thing is that they [Hamas] surrender. If they lay down their arms, the war is over," Netanyahu explained.