The chance that Hamas will release more Israeli hostages is diminishing as Israel expands its ground offensive throughout Gaza and the United States struggles to restart talks, well-placed sources say.
“Not much happened today in the talks between the parties,” a foreign source familiar with the hostage negotiations told Haaretz on Sunday. “The matter is stalled.
“Although the door has not been permanently closed, the mood is pessimistic.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later made clear that Israel had withdrawn from the hostage negotiations for the time being.
A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group, which allowed the release of dozens of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas during its sneak attack on Israel on October 7, ended on Friday, with the Israeli government accusing the terrorists of violating the agreement by launching rockets against the Jewish nation.
Israel quickly revived its war against Hamas, launching its 10,000th airstrike on the Gaza Strip on Sunday since the conflict began on October 7 and saying it would extend its ground invasion throughout the Palestinian-controlled region.
The chance of more Israeli hostages being released from Hamas custody remains slim to none, those familiar with the negotiations say. Via REUTERS
With that assault underway, an unnamed foreign diplomat said he does not expect any more hostages to be freed.
“It will take a lot of time and effort to prepare the parties for another agreement, especially with the intensification of the Israeli military operation in the background,” the diplomat told Haaretz.
The United States is still desperately trying to persuade Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations for a peace break and exchange more Palestinian prisoners for hostages.
More than 100 hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on October 7 were freed during a temporary ceasefire. GPO/AFP via Getty Images The ceasefire negotiated for the exchange of some of the 240 hostages ended on Friday. Via REUTERS
“We’re still working very hard, hour by hour, to see if we can get the parties back to the table and see if we can get something moving,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. the NBC network. “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
He stressed that Hamas was to blame for the breakdown of talks and said it failed to live up to the terms of its original agreement by refusing to present a list of more women and children hostages who could be freed, in addition to the 105 it has already held. been released. he has already been released.
Meanwhile, Osama Hamdan, Hamas’s representative in Lebanon, has said that negotiations would not resume until the Israeli ground invasion stops, according to the New York Times.
Israel on Sunday launched its 10,000th airstrike on the Gaza Strip since the war began on October 7. REUTERS Osama Hamdan, Hamas’s representative in Lebanon, has said hostage negotiations would not resume until the Israeli ground invasion stops. AFP via Getty Images The ceasefire ended when Israel accused Hamas of violating the agreement by launching rockets at the Jewish nation. AFP via Getty Images
Netanyahu said his country is focusing its efforts on achieving the release of the hostages by force.
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“We continue to talk now with our enemy about the continuation of the hostage release, talking with fire,” he told members of his Likud party on Sunday, according to the Times of Israel.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told relatives of those held captive in Gaza on Sunday: “As military operations progress, pressure on Hamas increases and so does our chances of returning more hostages.”
But the families demand that Israel negotiate again with the terrorist group to free more hostages.
They demanded to meet with all three members of Israel’s war cabinet on Monday, and Yael Adar, the mother of hostage Tamir Adar, said they want assurance that the government remains focused on bringing the hostages home.
“We are asking for answers on next steps and [the cabinet] to ensure that the hostages are a priority,” he said at a press conference, according to the Times of Israel.
The families of those still detained by Hamas demand that Israel negotiate once again with the terrorist group to free their loved ones. fake images
Daniel Lifshitz, whose grandparents were taken hostage, called on the Israeli government to release the hostages no matter what.
“Go back to the negotiating table immediately… and reach an agreement at any price,” he said. “That’s what you promised us. We will not beg.”
Netanyahu’s office said he, Gallant and Knesset member Benny Gantz are scheduled to meet with the hostages’ families on Wednesday, but are considering moving up the meeting.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn