According to a senior security official, "Our goal is to release all hostages, especially the living ones, as quickly as possible. However, we must proceed with a deal now to rescue as many hostages as we can."
The official emphasized, "We will bring everyone back, reorganize, and return to the fight," adding that "a cease-fire is not the end of the war." While acknowledging that the current deal may not release all hostages at once, the official believes it is the best achievable outcome for now.
Despite Hamas's recent announcement that it will not attend the Thursday summit, the defence establishment remains optimistic. They view Hamas's move as a tactic to improve negotiation conditions rather than an attempt to derail the talks. The belief is that Yahya Sinwar, facing significant pressure and possible elimination, remains interested in reaching an agreement. The official noted that removing Sinwar could significantly advance the end of the conflict, as public sentiment in Gaza supports this outcome.