The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog has urged his country’s government to seek an agreement with Hamas to rescue the 116 hostages who have been held captive in the Gaza Strip for nine months since the start of the war.
“The entire nation wants their return and an absolute majority supports an agreement that includes the release of the hostages. The duty of the state is to return them and that is at the heart of the consensus,” Herzog said in a message posted on the social network X.
“Our commitment to the return of the abductees is absolute and supreme. The people of Israel do not forget them for a moment. In every home and family, in every synagogue, in every community, at every public and private event, we hear the concern for the abductees, the prayer and the cry for their speedy return home,” he stressed.
The statement comes following nine months of conflict, as Israel considers a new ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would facilitate the release of prisoners. This agreement will be discussed in the coming days in Egypt by the main mediators, the United States and Qatar.
Hamas agrees to release hostages in Gaza
However, hardline Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben Gvir (National Security) and Bezalel Smotrich (Finance) have expressed their opposition to negotiating with the Islamists and have warned that they would leave the coalition if Israel reaches an agreement with Hamas.
Israeli society is in a state of growing desperation for the return of loved ones who have been kidnapped in Gaza.
A new series of protests has been called for next Sunday across the country, including in major cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with the aim of bringing together a million people in the streets to demand an agreement for the release of hostages in Gaza and the dissolution of the Israeli Parliament in order to call early elections.
The current conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has effective control over the Gaza Strip, began on October 7, 2023, following an attack by the Islamist group involving the launching of thousands of rockets and the infiltration of numerous militants. This attack resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 others in Israeli villages near the Gaza Strip.
According to official Israeli figures, of the 251 abductees, 116 are still in captivity in Gaza, while 42 are estimated to have died. However, Hamas estimates the death toll to be higher than 70.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the war will not end until all military objectives are achieved, including the destruction of Hamas and the recovery of all hostages.
Hamas says it will not agree to any agreement that does not result in a permanent cessation of violence.
During this war, the longest since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, only one week-long ceasefire agreement was reached at the end of November. This agreement allowed the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
(With information from EFE)
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2024-07-08 04:28:07
