Hamas has indicated a willingness to negotiate the release of remaining hostages, contingent upon certain conditions. This announcement may provide hope to families in Israel who have awaited such news. The group’s statement responded to a peace proposal from the United States, agreeing to release “all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead,” according to a formula presented by former President Donald Trump. This formula calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the release of all living hostages held by Hamas within 72 hours, along with the remains of those presumed dead, in exchange for hundreds of detained Palestinians.
Currently, it is believed that 48 hostages remain in the custody of Hamas, with only 20 expected to be alive. Additionally, Hamas’s acceptance of the U.S. proposal to transfer governance of Gaza to Palestinian technocrats is notable. However, some key components of the 20-point proposal are missing, particularly the demand that Hamas disarm itself.
The Israeli government is closely examining the wording of Hamas’s statement to understand its intentions. It will need to determine whether this is a genuine commitment to the proposed terms or a strategy to prolong negotiations. The closing remark of the Hamas statement, suggesting it would retain an influential role in the future governance of Gaza, may be concerning for Israeli officials. This development follows President Trump’s ultimatum for Hamas to comply with the peace proposal or face severe consequences.
As Trump has urged Israel to halt bombing in Gaza to facilitate the safe release of hostages, he remarked on the positive potential of Hamas’s statement. He highlighted the need for further work to realize peace in the region and acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the situation, affirming that concrete details must still be finalized.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg9myeqjl1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss