Israeli and Hamas Talks on Hostage Release and Ceasefire on the Brink of Collapse
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Hamas of not upholding their end of the deal and is thus hesitant to formally approve the agreement. According to the Prime Minister’s office, the Hamas is using a last-minute extortion attempt to create a crisis that would prevent a settlement. Israel will not schedule a cabinet meeting until the mediators confirm that the Hamas has approved all details of the agreement.
The deal, announced on Wednesday, follows the three-phase “peace plan” presented by US President Joe Biden around seven months ago, which served as the basis for a UN Security Council resolution. The deal reportedly involves the initial release of 33 hostages held by the Hamas, who were kidnapped from Israel on October 7, 2023. In return, Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The IDF will also gradually withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip. The release of the remaining hostages is to be negotiated later, with the number of still-living hostages unclear.