This is most likely fake news.
Herzog is nominally opposed to Netanyahu’s plan to completely ignore the hostages, though he’s generally considered by anti-war advocates in Israel to be false opposition.
Trump did not get paid a hundred million dollars to free hostages. Bibi could care less. Bibi had a bunch of Jews killed on October 7th as part of the “Hannibal Protocol,” which says it’s better for an Israeli to die than be taken hostage. If he was already trying to kill them, why would he care if they die now?
Israel has sought to enlist Elon Musk’s help in reviving hostage negotiations with Hamas, according to reports in US media.Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, called the billionaire tech entrepreneur earlier this week to ask for his help in convincing Donald Trump to pursue a deal, according to CNN.
Trump earlier this week demanded that Hamas release all of the hostages before his inauguration on 20 January or there would be “ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East”.
See: Trump Says “All Hell to Pay in the Middle East” If Hamas Doesn’t Release Hostages
Nearly 100 hostages, both dead and alive, are believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza since the 7 October 2023 raid by the group.Musk was Trump’s largest single backer in the election, investing more than $260m into his campaign, according to new financial filings. He has become a key conduit to Trump, sitting in on job interviews, heading up the proposed cost-cutting “Department of Government Efficiency” and serving as an informal envoy to foreign countries.
A source close to the Israeli hostage families, who spoke with Herzog and is familiar with the conversation, told CNN: “There was a chat between [Herzog] and a few hostage families, where one of the subjects discussed was influence on Trump, and Elon Musk’s name came up as someone of influence on Trump. Therefore, keeping an open channel with him is important.”
It’s convoluted.
Bibi would like the hostages released, if possible, because that would take all leverage away from Hamas. However, if they don’t release the hostages, he’s just going to ignore them.
Trump demanded Hamas release the hostages or else (I guess he’ll kill even more kids?) because that gives an excuse for supporting Israel’s insanity. “They refused to release the hostages.”
Bibi does not want negotiations with Hamas. He’s sabotaged all of those negotiations. He wants full ethnic cleansing of Gaza, so there is nothing to negotiate about.
Maybe Herzog really does want the hostages released, and wants negotiations, and this call really happened. I don’t know. It’s possible. It’s not possible, however, that Trump is going to negotiate with Hamas.
