Middle East conflict
Gaza: Talks about releasing some hostages
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© Petros Giannakouris/AP/dpa
With the mediation of Qatar, Israel and Hamas are apparently currently negotiating the release of more hostages. Israel’s prime minister had previously named a condition for a ceasefire.
In the Gaza war there are negotiations about the Release of about a dozen hostages held by Hamas and a ceasefire lasting two to three days. A person with knowledge of these discussions confirmed this to the German Press Agency on Thursday. It was said that the negotiations were taking place with the mediation of Qatar and in consultation with the USA. It is about the “release of 10 to 15 hostages in return for a 48 to 72 hour humanitarian pause” in the fighting.
On Wednesday evening, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again mentioned the release of the 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 releasing all 239 hostages at once.
The Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot 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 older women, children and mothers. According to Israeli representatives, this is “still far from being completed”.
Thailand is also negotiating with Hamas
Israel is therefore insisting on clear agreements to ensure that it is not pressured into a prolonged ceasefire that could be seen as a victory for Hamas. According to media reports, Israel fears that the beleaguered Hamas could regroup during a lengthy ceasefire. This could then endanger Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. It is also unclear whether Palestinian prisoners should also be released from Israeli prisons as part of a hostage release, the newspaper wrote.
At the same time, there are also independent negotiations between Hamas and Thailand regarding the release of 23 Thai hostages, which Iran is mediating.
Relatives in Israel are calling for all hostages to be released as part of any ceasefire agreement.