Israel has demanded that Hamas give in before further negotiations. The terrorist organization would have to give up its ‘delusions’ and an Israeli delegation would return to the negotiating table. Relatives of the hostages in the Gaza Strip speak of a “death sentence” for their loved ones.
According to Israeli media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused on Thursday to send a delegation back to Cairo, where negotiations would continue through international mediators.
Survivors ‘stunned’
Relatives of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza were “stunned” by Netanyahu’s refusal and spoke of a “death sentence.” It appeared that some members of Netanyahu’s cabinet had decided to “sacrifice the lives of the hostages without admitting it,” the Times of Israel newspaper quoted the hostage families forum as saying.
“I insist that Hamas abandon its delusions. If she does this, we can move forward,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Wednesday evening. Senior officials from the United States, Israel, Qatar and Egypt had failed to reach an agreement the day before in Cairo but agreed to extend talks at lower official levels for three days, the New York Times reported, citing an Egyptian official .
Israel rejects Hamas’ demands
The Israeli delegation, led by Mossad secret service chief David Barnea, left Cairo in the evening. “There has been no new proposal from Hamas for the release of our hostages in Cairo,” Netanyahu said. According to Israeli media, he argues that there is no point in returning to the Cairo talks as long as Hamas demands the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
According to The Times of Israel newspaper, the Islamist organization is demanding the release of about 1,500 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, including many convicted murderers and terrorists, in exchange for the remaining hostages kidnapped from Israel to the Gaza Strip on October 7. Hamas is also demanding a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
Israel wants a “sensible” proposal
Israeli officials have made it clear that the Israeli military will soon launch its planned offensive on the southern coastal city of Rafah if Hamas does not return to the negotiating table with a proposal that Israel considers more sensible, according to the Wall Street Journal. someone familiar with Israel’s position.
Hamas circles, however, said it was Israel that was not making progress in the negotiations. A Hamas delegation is in Cairo. Egyptian media had previously reported that the tenor of the talks so far had been ‘positive’. Egypt, Qatar and the US are making renewed efforts to broker a longer ceasefire in the Gaza war. As part of an agreement, the hostages will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in several phases.
During a week-long ceasefire in November last year, 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. There are currently 134 people in Hamas custody, but Israeli estimates say at least 30 of them are no longer alive.
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.
