PHOTO: ANAS BABA / AFP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is engaged in intense political manoeuvring as pressure grows at home and abroad to release hostages held in Gaza and bring fighting to a halt.
A proposal to free the hostages in exchange for a pause in Israel's offensive in the Palestinian territory is being studied by Hamas leaders after it was thrashed out by Israel, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected in Israel soon for talks with Netanyahu on the proposal.
But far-right members of Israel's ruling coalition have said they would bring down Netanyahu's government if the proposal is agreed, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warning parliament on Wednesday: "A dangerous deal means the dissolution of the government."
As public outrage steadily grows over the hostages, Netanyahu is working to keep his extreme-right allies on his side despite their threats to walk, experts told AFP.
"I think that because of the amount of pressure on the government from the Israeli public... the government will agree to some kind of prisoner exchange," said Israela Oron of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, referring to a previous deal that saw Israeli hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
"Netanyahu is trying to prepare his coalition for this hostage deal."
Opposition leader Yair Lapid presented an alternative option to the premier on Wednesday, saying his party would back a freeze in fighting if it meant hostages were released.
"I'm not ready for the hostages not to be released for political reasons, so we'll do whatever it takes, if we have to enter the government... we'll enter the government," Lapid told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, offering to join Netanyahu's coalition to save its parliamentary majority.
