Gershon Baskin worked on the high-profile release of Gilad Shalit in 2011 and was also involved late last year when 105 Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
On Friday, Israel, via the United States, put forward a proposal for a cease-fire that includes a permanent end to the war.
War between Israel and Hamas
Now the pressure on Israel is increasing – demands to agree to a ceasefire
SVT’s foreign reporter: Such are the prospects for the new ceasefire proposal
Hamas has been cautiously positive about the proposal, although they said on Saturday that they do not yet have any written documentation with the details.
Division in Israel over the proposal
The relatives of the hostages say that time is running out and demand that the country say yes to the proposal. At the same time, there are ministers in Israel’s coalition government who are threatening to overthrow Netanyahu and government cooperation if the war ends.
Criticism for lack of post-war plan
Benjamin Netanyahu repeated as recently as yesterday that Hamas must be wiped out before Israel will withdraw from Gaza.
Defense Minister Gallant has previously criticized Netanyahu for Israel’s lack of plans on how to govern the Gaza Strip without Hamas.
On Sunday, the Minister of Defense said that the country is now working to find a new government. According to Gallant, an alternative to Hamas must be developed by Israel “isolating areas, removing Hamas members and bringing in other forces”.
Even the hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin is critical of Israel’s post-war plan, or the lack of a plan. Hear him in the video above.
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SVT’s foreign reporter Stina Blomgren reports on Israel’s new proposal for a ceasefire. Photo: Pernilla Edholm