2023-12-20 00:35:00
Israel appears prepared for a new truce but Hamas opposes even a complete cessation of attacks in Gaza (Europa Press)
As fighting between Hamas and Israeli troops continues in Gaza, with the army moving deeper into the enclave and key terrorist strongholds, the hostage situation continues to worry the world.
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This Tuesday, President Isaac Herzog assured that his country is “prepared for another humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid to make possible the release of hostages,” an alternative that had begun to be contemplated in the slightest in recent days following the head of Mossad, David Barnea, met, together with the director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Bill Burns, with the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Adbulrahman Al thani, in Warsaw.
However, the president assured that, beyond his efforts and his will, all responsibility for a new agreement falls in the hands of the terrorists, who are the ones who keep the hundreds of civilians still deprived of their freedom.
The President opened the door to a new agreement following the Director of the Mossad and the CIA met with the Qatari Prime Minister (Europa Press)
In response to these statements, Hamas warned that it is not willing to sit down at the negotiating table once more as long as Israeli attacks on the Strip and its people continue.
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“We affirm our position of categorically rejecting maintaining any form of negotiations on the exchange of prisoners as long as Israel’s genocidal war continues,” the group released in a statement in which they added that “we are open to any initiative that contributes to ending the aggression once morest our people and to open the crossings to bring aid and relief to the Palestinians.”
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At the same time, yesterday Hamas released a video in which three hostages between 79 and 84 years old are seen asking for their release “regardless of the cost” and assuring that the days pass “under very harsh conditions.” One of them was identified as Haiem Bery.
“We don’t understand why we have been abandoned here, they must free us, no matter the cost. We do not want to be victims as a direct result of the Israeli Army’s bombings. Release us without any conditions,” they are heard saying in what Tel Aviv denounced as an act of psychological terrorism with which they try to increase pressure. Even the spokesman for the Nir Oz kibbutz, to which they belong, was quick to point out that “recent events sadly show that the hostage situation is deteriorating.”
Hamas opposes a new truce and instead tried to increase pressure by releasing a video of three hostages
That is why Israel remains firm in its opposition to this request, also made by the international community and organizations such as the United Nations, since it assures that this would only strengthen Hamas and allow it to continue operating and continue with the threats once morest its country. Instead, they maintain that they will continue the attacks until the eradication of the pro-Iranian militia is guaranteed.
However, regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Herzog assured that his country is open to increasing shipments of supplies, which might be up to triple – that is, regarding 350 trucks a day instead of the current around 100 – but This requires “an effort” from the UN and the organizations with which it works, which it accuses of being partial in this conflict.
Israel said humanitarian aid in Gaza might triple if the UN made “an effort” (REUTERS)
Of the initial 240 hostages, it is currently believed that Hamas still has some 129 civilians in its power, of which around twenty are dead.
The truce on November 24, which lasted for a week, allowed the return home of 105 people, 24 of them foreigners, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners and thanks to the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States. .
(With information from EFE and Archyde.com)
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