JNS
Danny Danon told reporters in New York that the ceasefire and hostage release deal comes at a “very heavy price.”
Israelis are looking forward to the next round of released hostages on Sunday; still, the agreement with the Hamas terror organization comes at a “very heavy price,” Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, said at a press briefing on Wednesday in New York City.
“It is not an exchange of prisoners, like I saw reported in a few places. We demanded the release of babies and women, who were kidnapped from their homes, and we released murderers who were convicted in court for killing hundreds of Israelis,” the envoy told reporters.
“It’s very hard in Israel—the debate about it, because other families, who were the victims of these terrorists, are afraid that once released, the terrorists will continue their activities,” Danon said. “The government approved the agreement, and we will comply with it.”
It remains to be seen if Jerusalem will be able to negotiate a second phase of a deal, according to Danon.
“The main thing to be discussed is what will be the second stage of the agreement, and negotiations for that will start in 10 days,” he said. “On the 16th day of the ceasefire, we can start negotiations. If we are not negotiating, the ceasefire will be over after 42 days.”
Danon told JNS during the briefing that the deal that Israel agreed to in late May—onto which Hamas didn’t sign—was “a similar agreement but not exactly the same” as the one signed this month.
“We received more hostages for this agreement, and most importantly it was not accepted by Hamas back then,” Danon told JNS.
“Back then, when it was offered by President Biden, we agreed to that, and Hamas said ‘no,’” he added. “I think the pressure we put on Hamas on the ground, and the pressure from both administrations and negotiators, had an effect.”
Danon told reporters that “we have 94 hostages in Gaza as we speak,” and “hopefully, we will be able to release 30 more hostages, but we will still have 64 hostages after the first stage of the ceasefire.”
“Dealing with this issue will be the first priority when we have discussions with the new Trump administration,” he said. He noted working with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mike Huckabee, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, as well as Elise Stefanik, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
“They have been in the game for many, many years,” Danon said. “They know all about the dynamics of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNRWA and the United Nations, and I think it will be easier for us because we can start with the most important things on our agenda.” UNRWA refers to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
“From what we hear so far, we think that their approach is the right approach, especially about Iran and limiting its capabilities of spreading terror and chaos,” he added.
Danon also praised Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, who is expected to continue to play an active role in the region.
“We welcome his involvement,” Danon told reporters. “I think it’s important to have active envoys that can speak with the parties. At the end of the day, we will make our decisions.”
Danon told journalists that reports saying that Witkoff forced the hostage deal “framework” on Israel are incorrect. “We are grown-ups,” he said. “If the Israeli government or the prime minister does not want to move in a certain direction, we will not do it, and in this way, Witkoff was actually supportive.”
The Israeli delegation to the United Nations will be discussing the future of UNRWA at the global body next week, said Danon. (The Knesset passed a law banning the agency for its link to terrorism, which is slated to go into effect at the end of the month.)
“We don’t support UNRWA, which for years have proven that they are not focusing on humanitarian aid but have allowed Hamas to infiltrate the organization,” Danon said. “That is why the Israeli government passed legislation that states Israeli authorities are not allowed to work with UNRWA.”
“We cannot control the work of UNRWA itself, but we can control what we are doing, or not doing with it,” he said.
“The main challenge will be what is happening with UNRWA officials who live and work in Israel,” he added. “We have offered alternative NGOs we are willing to work with, mainly the U.N. Development Programme, but unfortunately the secretary-general prefers to come to the last minute without finding solutions.”
