Negotiations are underway to gain the release of many hostages that Hamas is holding in Gaza. Two people familiar with the situation and one western diplomat familiar with the talks However, the negotiations are being hampered by a variety of issues.
The parties involved in the ongoing negotiations are the United States, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas. Thus far, four captives have been released: two American and two Israeli. However, an agreement to free a larger number of hostages all at once is now the goal.
Another source stated that, having seen only two sets of two hostages released thus far, Israel is asking for a comprehensive plan for such a release. According to Israel, Hamas is thought to be holding more than 200 hostages in Gaza.Israel has refrained from entering Gaza on foot thus far, and the United States has put pressure on Israel to postpone its attack even longer in order to free more hostages that Hamas is holding.According to the sources, the ground invasion’s timeline is subject to change.The sources stated they don’t think the Israelis will hold off for more than a few days, but there is no set timetable for that delay.
According to a person familiar with Hamas’ demands, the group wants more fuel let into the coastal enclave as part of the negotiations, but Israeli authorities have made it clear that they are not willing to compromise on that.
The government has decided against allowing fuel in because Hamas will steal it and use it to power rockets fired into Israel to kill our people, Ambassador Mark Regev, a top adviser to the prime minister, said on Monday night. Even if Hamas releases all of the hostages, Regev stated that Israel will not permit additional fuel to enter Gaza.
The chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces did, however, state in a speech on Tuesday that while attempts will be made to give gasoline access in Gaza, where it is needed to ease the humanitarian crisis, it would “not allow” the fuel to reach Hamas.We’ll see to it that fuel is available wherever it’s needed to treat citizens. Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi declared, “We will not give Hamas fuel to prolong their struggle against Israel’s population.
President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke over the phone on Monday night over the hostage situation as preparations for a ground invasion moved forward.Following the conversation, the White House stated, “The President welcomed the release of two additional hostages from Gaza earlier today and reaffirmed his commitment to ongoing efforts to secure the release of all the remaining hostages taken by Hamas, including Americans, and to provide for safe passage for US citizens and other civilians in Gaza.”
If a larger wave of hostages were to be released, figuring out how to do so has proven to be an incredibly difficult task. Since Hamas stormed Gaza on October 7, Israel has been bombarding the region nonstop; relocating a sizable group during these strikes would put them in danger.One of the ten Americans who have gone missing is a permanent resident, while the other nine are US citizens. According to a US official, US officials are searching for “alternatives” to advance the hostage talks. They stated, “We’re actively working on it.”
The hostages are thought to be dispersed around Gaza, as US officials have previously stated, which adds to the complexity of the situation.In response to a question on Monday about whether the US would back a “hostages-for-a-ceasefire” agreement, Biden stated, “We should have a ceasefire.” “Not a ceasefire; we should have those hostages released, and then we can talk.” He swiftly changed his response.However, representatives from Israel have made it clear that they will not consent to a ceasefire.
“We are attempting to free every hostage by every avenue. We still have the same objective, and we’ll accomplish it. It will take as long as it takes to demolish Hamas, according to a representative of the Israeli prime minister’s office.
