Will a truce see daylight in Gaza’s strip? A source in Hamas told AFP this Monday, May 26 that the Palestinian movement accepted an American proposal that includes the release of ten lively Israeli hostages detained, in two groups, in exchange for a high fire of 70 days and a partial withdrawal of the Gaza Strip.
The proposal also foresees the release of a certain number of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, including hundreds of people who serve long prison sentences, he added. But this statement was denied by the American emissary Steve Witkoff, denouncing “totally unacceptable” comments.
“What I saw of Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable,” the American diplomat told our colleagues in axios.
Netanyahu promises to bring all the hostages back
A high fire between January 19 and March 17 had led the Israeli hostages of Gaza 33, including 8 dead, in exchange for the release of about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. Since then, only Edan Alexander, the last American hostage, was released by Hamas this Monday, May 12.
The negotiations between the Palestinian Islamist movement and the Hebrew State are blocked. After two months of truce, Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18 before intensifying it on May 17, with the aim of destroying Hamas and releasing the hostages eliminated during the unprecedented attack against the Palestinian Islamist movement in the Israeli soil on October 7, 2023.
The discussions take place in Doha, Qatar, a country that serves as an intermediary between the two fields. There are several blocking points, such as the future role of Hamas in the Palestinian enclave or the presence of Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip.
Last week, Israel announced the “by consultation” withdrawal of its senior officials responsible for the negotiations in Doha and the maintenance of a work team in the capital of Qatar.
During the unprecedented attack perpetrated by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, 251 people had been eliminated. Fifty -eight are still preserved in Gazaincluding 34 dead, according to the Israeli army. This Monday night, Benjamin Netanyahu promised to bring all the “dead or alive” hostages.
“If we do not get there today, we will get there tomorrow and, if not tomorrow, we do not give up (…). We intend to bring them all, the living and the dead,” said the Israeli leader.
According to the data of the Hamas Ministry, they considered reliable by the UN.
Source: BFM TV
