JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas once again appear to be heading towards a ceasefire that might end the fifteen-month period war in Gaza and bring home dozens of Israelis held hostage there.
Both Israel and Hamas are under pressure from outgoing US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump to reach an agreement before the January 20 inauguration. However, the parties were close to reaching an agreement, just for the talks to break down various misunderstandings.
The latest round of negotiations bogged down over names hostages to be released according to Israeli, Egyptian and Hamas officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing ongoing negotiations.
Israel wants assurances that the hostages are alive, while Hamas says it’s unsure who’s alive and who’s dead after months of heavy fighting.
Other obstacles remain.
The first phase, which is anticipated to last six to eight weeks, can even include a cessation of fighting and releases Palestinian prisoners ia increase in aid To the besieged Gaza Strip, according to officials. The final phase would come with the discharge of the remaining hostages, an end to the war, and talks about reconstruction and who would rule Gaza in the long run.
“If we can’t get the project to completion in the next two weeks, I’m sure we will be able to complete it at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday in Seoul. .
Here’s a closer take a look at the important thing issues that make it difficult to seal a deal:
During an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Hamas and other groups killed roughly 1,200 people and took roughly 250 hostages in Gaza. AND truce in November 2023, over 100 hostages were released, and over the past 12 months, the remainder were rescued or their stays were found.
Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Gaza – it says at the very least a third of them were killed within the October 7 attack or died in captivity.
According to Israeli, Egyptian and Hamas officials, the primary batch of hostages to be released will consist mainly of girls, elderly people and individuals with health problems.
On Monday, a Hamas official provided the AP with a list of 34 names of hostages it said were to be released. An Egyptian official confirmed that the list had been the topic of recent discussions.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the names got here from a list Israel presented several months ago. “So far, Israel has not received any confirmation or comment from Hamas regarding the status of the hostages on the list,” he said.
On Monday, a second Hamas official published a list of 14 names that the group said Israel faraway from consideration after they were approved by Hamas and replaced with other names. Israel didn’t respond to a request for comment but said 14 people were dead.
An Israeli official said the present impasse was due to Hamas’ refusal to provide information on the hostage conditions, while one other official said the top of the Mossad intelligence agency’s trip to negotiations in Qatar had been placed on hold.
Meanwhile, a Hamas official said that “no one knows” the conditions of all of the hostages. Hamas officials said they might not provide a full financial report until a truce is reached due to war.
More than 45,800 Palestinians have been killed for the reason that war began in Gaza, according to local health authorities, who say women and children make up greater than half of those killed. They don’t say how lots of those killed were militants.
Hostage families reacted angrily to reports of a phased approach, arguing that the federal government should as a substitute pursue a deal that may allow for the immediate release of all prisoners. They say time is running out to get people home safely.
“This morning, I and everyone in Israel woke up to discover that the State of Israel had made Schindler’s List – 34 people who will be able to hug their families again, and 66 others whose fate will be sealed,” said Yotam Cohen, whose brother Nimrod, an Israeli the soldier held hostage was not on the published list.
Netanyahu said he supported a partial cease-fire agreement but rejected Hamas’ demands for a complete Israeli withdrawal, which might end the war. Netanyahu vowed to proceed the fight until “total victory” was achieved – including the destruction of Hamas’ military capabilities.
Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hamas. However, the group continues to stage attacks in Gaza and fire rockets into Israel. This could herald an open war that might drag on for months or years.
The Hostage Forum, a grassroots group representing many hostage families, said it was time for a comprehensive settlement.
“We know that more than half are still alive and require immediate rehabilitation, and those murdered should be returned and given a decent burial,” it was stated. “We have no more time to waste. The ceasefire agreement regarding hostages must be sealed immediately!”
As a part of the deal, Israel is anticipated to release tons of of imprisoned Palestinians, including dozens convicted of bloody attacks.
Israel has a history of large-scale prisoner releases, with tons of of individuals freed under the November 2023 agreement. However, the edges disagreed on the precise number and names of prisoners to be released. Hamas wants distinguished prisoners to be included. Israeli officials have ruled out release Marwan Barghoutiwhich is at the highest of Hamas’ wish list.
There are hardliners in Netanyahu’s ruling coalition who oppose such releases, and some have even vowed to leave the federal government if too many concessions are made. They point to the discharge of a prisoner in 2011, which also involved the previous leader of Hamas Yahya Sinwarmastermind of the October 7 attacks, who was killed by Israel in October.
According to UN estimates, the war has displaced about 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants, with the hardest-hit northern a part of the territory largely depopulated of its pre-war population.
In the primary phase of the developing agreement, Israel is anticipated to withdraw troops from Palestinian population centers and allow some displaced people to return home. But officials say the scope of the recall and how many individuals will likely be allowed to return remain to be determined.
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Magdy reported from Cairo. AP correspondents Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell in Beirut and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed reporting.
