Netanyahu opens ceasefire to free hostages: meanwhile Idf fires at diplomatic delegation in Jenin

Israeli PM says he is open to a temporary truce for the release of prisoners. But tensions remain high in the West Bank, where a diplomatic convoy is shot at by the army

In a nationally televised speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his readiness for a ‘temporary ceasefire’ in the Gaza Strip, provided it would facilitate the release of hostages still held by Hamas. ‘If there is an option for a temporary ceasefire to free hostages, we are ready,’ Netanyahu said, adding that ’there are 20 hostages who are definitely alive.’

The statements come at a time of maximum international pressure on the Israeli government, but they are not accompanied by concrete signs of wider diplomatic openness. The prime minister’s position appears to be aimed more at consolidating internal consensus and responding to the growing criticism from the hostages’ families, than at a real change in the ongoing military strategy on Gaza.

The day was also marked by a serious episode in the West Bank: the Israeli army opened fire on a diplomatic delegation visiting the Jenin refugee camp. Among those present was the Italian Vice Consul in Jerusalem, Alessandro Tutino. No one was injured, but the incident risks further fuelling tensions with the international community.

According to an initial reconstruction, reported by the daily Haaretz, the incident occurred during an army operation in an area that was allegedly ‘unauthorised’ for convoy access. The army spoke of warning shots and expressed ‘regret for the inconvenience caused’, explaining that the delegation had deviated from the previously approved route.

The episode raises disturbing questions about the management of military operations in the occupied territories and respect for international rules concerning the safety of diplomatic representatives. The presence of a senior Italian official among those involved could now trigger requests for official clarification from Rome.

All of today’s events, between verbal openings and incidents on the ground, confirm the ambiguity of the Israeli government’s line: on the one hand, it invokes the possibility of a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons; on the other, it continues to operate in ways that expose even diplomatic missions to serious risks. A contradiction that is unlikely to go unnoticed by Western chancelleries.

THE LATEST NEWS

[recent_post_slider design=”design-07″ show_author=”false” slider_height=”390″ lazyload=”progressive” limit=”6″ category=”11728″]

(Photo: © AndKronos)