Gaza
Hamas’s spirits are seen to be battered by Israeli’s rapid action. This radical organization of Palestine has said in an important declaration that it is ready to leave all the hostages to end the ongoing war in Gaza. Hamas has said that it is ready to release all Israeli hostages in lieu of the full return of the Israeli army and the release of Palestinian prisoners. This statement was made by senior Hamas officer Khalil al-Hayya in a television speech on Thursday. This proposal is being seen as a possible step towards ending the conflict that has been going on for more than one and a half years in Gaza.
Hamas proposal
Senior Hamas officer Khalil al-Hayya said, “We are ready for a comprehensive agreement, which includes the release of all Israeli hostages, the release of Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Israel, the end of the Gaza war and the beginning of the rebellion of the region.” However, Hamas clarified that he would not accept Israel’s demand in which he would have to put his arms. Al-Hayya also rejected Israeli’s 45-day temporary ceasefire proposal, including the condition of Hamas’s arms.
Hamas also said that any agreement should be based on a permanent ceasefire, full return of the Israeli army and the guarantee of reconstruction of Gaza. A senior Palestinian official said, “Israel’s latest proposal does not announce the end of the war and only wants to achieve hostages.”
Netanyahu is using ceasefire for political gains- Hamas
Al-Hayya dismissed the 45-day temporary ceasefire scheme proposed by Israel, saying that Hamas would no longer accept any “partial agreement”. He alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using the ceasefire only for his political gains. He quoted Reuters as saying, “Netanyahu and his government use partial agreements to carry forward their political policy, which aims to continue the war through genocide and starvation – even if it has to be sacrificed for its own hostages for it. We will not be a part of implementing this policy.”
This strict position of Hamas may cause further shock to the efforts of Egyptians to restore the ceasefire. The conversation in Cairo this week ended without any conclusion. Hamas has also rejected the demand for Israel, in which the condition of leaving its weapons from the organization was laid. Hamas has clearly stated that he will leave the remaining 59 Israeli hostages only when the Israel will agree to completely eliminate the war.
Israeli rapid attacks
Here, the Israeli army has intensified its attacks on Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Department on Thursday, at least 32 Palestinians died, including women and children. Six people died in an attack on a UN school in Jabalia. Israel claimed that there was a Hamas Command Center.
At the same time, Hamas informed that his contact with the fighters holding the Israeli-American soldier Aden Alexander hostage has been lost. It was told that the place where Alexander was kept, there were Israeli attacks. In a video message, Hamas warned the families of the hostages that their loved ones could be killed in such attacks in future.
Struggle going on from 2023
The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a stunning attack on Southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were held hostage. In response, Israel started a comprehensive military campaign on Gaza, in which more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed so far according to Gaza Health officials. Hamas says that he currently has 59 hostage, of which 24 are expected to be alive.
Public pressure in Israel
In Israel, the demand for priority to the release of hostages is increasing. Hundreds of former Mossad and Air Force personnel have called upon the government to stop the war and pay attention to the release of the hostages. There are mass protests in Tel Aviv, where people are demanding compromises for a safe return of hostages. A protestor, Jonah Shnitzer said, “The position of the hostages in Gaza should not be normal. It is a shocking heart.”