Deri: "We are ready for a comprehensive deal at heavy prices but on one condition"

Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri, during a holiday interview with Shas's publication 'HaDerech', addressed the war in Gaza and Israel's negotiations for a hostage deal, clarifying the conditions Israel is setting for a comprehensive deal to return all hostages.

"We do not intend to renew humanitarian aid"

Deri, who rarely speaks on these issues, answered a question about why not pursue a single deal that includes all hostages, explaining: "We are ready for a comprehensive deal - to release all hostages together, even if it means paying heavy prices, but there is one fundamental condition: complete demilitarization of Gaza, expulsion of all Hamas senior officials and commanders, the entire command structure of the organization, and the establishment of an alternative government that will be agreed upon in advance. If Hamas accepts these conditions - we can move forward with a comprehensive deal. But Hamas is being stubborn."

Deri then addressed the government's decision to stop humanitarian aid to Gaza: "For more than a month we have completely stopped aid to Gaza, and we do not intend to renew it. All crossings are closed. Nothing enters the Strip, only exits for those who wish to leave."

"Currently, perhaps the population there does not yet feel the full intensity of the shortage - but within a few weeks - the situation will change. And then, Hamas will be forced to confront the suffering and frustrated population, who will understand clearly who is to blame for their situation: Hamas, which insists on not returning the hostages, and uses them for its own governing purposes."

Last night, additional quotes were published from Deri's interview with his party's publication. The Shas Chairman addressed the military draft law crisis and declared his red line: "The moment that, God forbid, there is even one incident where military police enter a yeshiva or home and arrest even one yeshiva student, Shas will not be able to remain in the government."

Deri continued and announced: "I have set a red line for everyone: by the beginning of the summer session, we must reach an internal agreement on all core issues of the draft law or we will not participate in votes." This is despite emphasizing that "there is no other coalition on the horizon, and this is a very sensitive period for the country - war, reconstruction, regional challenges. Opening crises now on secondary issues would be irresponsible."