Will Netanyahu Sabotage the Prisoner Exchange Deal?

The enemy had no choice but to concede in order to complete the deal—at least its first phase. It was not out of a desire to please Trump, nor was it out of concern for the families of the captives held by the resistance. These families had protested for 14 months without anyone paying attention to them. Initially, they were the only ones allowed to demonstrate, while Netanyahu persistently avoided them and refused to meet with them despite their constant pleas. Eventually, he began forming counter-groups consisting of families of slain soldiers to create the illusion of two opposing factions: one demanding the continuation of the war and the other calling for its end. Even staged clashes between the two groups were not out of the question.

This raises the question: Why did Netanyahu agree to the deal in the first place? And why is he trying to sabotage it now?

Netanyahu agreed to the deal because he realized that his army could not achieve a decisive victory and that its losses were increasing. The last month alone proved this, with the heaviest casualties occurring in Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun—both near the separation barrier between Gaza and the occupied territories—where the army had entered on the first day of the ground invasion.

The resistance successfully placed the enemy in a state of continuous attrition. As a result, Netanyahu abandoned all his preconditions but insisted that the deal be executed in multiple phases to save face. The resistance took advantage of this structure, turning each of the five exchange operations into a global event, with Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and even the world eagerly awaiting each Saturday to see what the brigades would unveil next.

But why is he now trying to derail the deal?

There are several reasons. True to the enemy’s nature of treachery, dishonesty, and breaking agreements, Netanyahu seeks to project strength to his supporters and to test the resistance’s response. Another key reason is to divert attention from the West Bank, where his army and settler militias continue their crimes unchecked. By keeping the focus on the exchange deal, Netanyahu aims to shift the spotlight away from the atrocities being committed there.

However, just as Gaza stands firm, so too does the West Bank. It is capable not only of enduring and resisting but also of exposing the weakness of an army that only enters battles to destroy and demolish, all while fearing capture at the hands of the resistance.

Thus, we continue to affirm the words of Allah: “If they fight you, they will turn their backs in flight, and then they will not be helped.” (Quran, 3:111)