According to the US, Israel has agreed to a daily ceasefire. The US presidential office in Washington said these would apply in the northern Gaza Strip for four hours from Thursday.
Negotiations are also underway to release a dozen hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. An insider from the German news agency confirmed this on Thursday. It was said that the negotiations took place with the mediation of Qatar and in consultation with the US. It concerns the “release of ten to fifteen hostages in exchange for a humanitarian break of 48 to 72 hours in the fighting.
Release of the hostages as a condition
On Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again mentioned the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip as a condition for a ceasefire. “I want to put aside all kinds of false rumors that we hear from all possible directions and make one thing clear: there will be no ceasefire without the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu said. Everything else is wrong. However, it was unclear whether he meant the release of all 239 Hamas hostages at once.
The Israeli newspaper ‘Yediot Ahronot’ reported on Thursday about a possible deal brokered by Qatar and involving CIA chief William Burns. There was talk of releasing 50 to 60 hostages, mostly elderly women, children and mothers. According to Israeli representatives, this is “far from complete.”
CIA Director Burns, along with Mossad chief David Barnea, discussed possible scenarios for the release of the Gaza Strip hostages and a ceasefire with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, a person familiar with the matter. desk.
A ceasefire should not be seen as a victory for Hamas
Israel is therefore pushing for clear agreements to ensure it is not pressured into a long-term ceasefire, which could be seen as a victory for Hamas. According to media reports, Israel fears that the beleaguered Hamas could regroup during a prolonged ceasefire. This could then endanger Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. It is also unclear whether Palestinian prisoners should also be released from Israeli prisons as part of the hostage release, the newspaper wrote.
At the same time, there are also independent negotiations between Hamas and Thailand on the release of 23 Thai hostages, with Iran mediating.
Relatives in Israel are calling for the release of all hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
