According to Israel, around 100 hostages are still being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Only a few of them are said to still be alive. The terrorist organization Hamas also wants to use dead hostages to free Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Proper burial of the entire body plays an important role in the Jewish religion. That is why the Israeli government also wants the bodies of the hostages back.
The 96 remaining hostages from October 7, 2023 include 83 men, 13 women and two children under the age of five. Most of them are Israelis, ten foreigners – from Thailand (eight people), Nepal (one person) and Tanzania (also one person). The Israeli hostages also include several people with German, American or Russian dual nationality, as well as Austrian-Israeli dual nationality and father Tal Shoham.
Difficult talks between Hamas and Israel
Talks on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages have been slow lately. Signs of hope have been disappointed time and again so far. The Israeli government has now accused Hamas of delaying tactics. “You know exactly who is alive and who is dead,” government spokesman David Mencer said on Monday. Gaza is also a “very small place” and Hamas knows exactly where the hostages are.
Hamas said on Sunday it wanted to transfer 34 hostages to Israel in a “first phase” – regardless of whether they were “dead or alive”. These include women, children, the elderly and the sick. “We know that more than half of the hostages are still alive and in need of immediate rehabilitation, while the murdered people need to be returned home for a dignified burial,” said the hostages’ relatives.
Blinking confidently
Indirect negotiations are currently underway between the Israeli government and Hamas in Qatar. In exchange for the hostages, convicted Palestinian prisoners must be released from prisons. From US Secretary of State Blinken’s perspective, the chances of an agreement are high – even if it may not materialize during President Joe Biden’s term. “If we don’t get it across the finish line in the next two weeks, I’m confident it will be completed at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later,” he said.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
