Hostages Release to Pause Gaza War up to Three Days
-
Raven Ruma
- . November 9, 2023
- . Update: November 9, 2023 2:45 pm
There is a glimmer of hope for the families of Israeli hostages and for the people of Gaza as key players in the region have nearly sealed a deal for possible release of some hostages by Hamas. And this could possibly bring about a pause in fighting in Gaza of up to three days.
Reports are also coming in of Egypt having nearly stuck a deal for a humanitarian truce in Gaza and exchanging captives (hostages). Sources say Egyptian authorities and contacts have been intensively engaged in talks to reach a truce in Gaza.
This comes after US State Secretary Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel and Palestine earlier this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was earlier adamant that there would be no ceaseful, said Monday his government would consider tactical little pauses to bring the hostages out.
Critical Stage of Hostages Negotiations and Gaza
A senior Arab official says there was hope that a deal could still be reached. On Monday, US President Joe Biden urged Netanyahu in a call to agree to a three-day pause in fighting to allow some of the hostages to be released.
Sources say that if things go well, Hamas would release 10 to 15 hostages and use the three-day pause to verify the identities of all the hostages and deliver a list of names of the people it is holding. During the October 7 attack, Hamas kidnapped at least 240 people from Israel. So far, only two elderly Israeli women have been released. Israel intel believes Hamas is holding about 180 hostages, 40 are with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and 20 are with other militant factions.
Abu Obaida, a spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, said on Wednesday in a televised address on Al-Aqsa TV that the only way to guarantee the full release of captives was through a complete or gradual swap of prisoners. He said they have women captives, including the sick and elderly and civilians, adding that Israel also has the same types of people in its prisons. “This issue cannot be resolved except via trade within each of these categories of prisoners and captives, or in a comprehensive process that includes everyone.”
Keep Reading
Navigating Starlink Dilemma: Balancing Aid and Security in Gaza
Palestine Screams Blood, Devastation and Terror in Gaza
Pause in Gaza War
The UN, human rights groups, and much of the international community have pressed the US, Israel and its allies for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow much needed aid into Gaza for the civilians. But the Israeli PM has not been ready for a pause. Netanyahu said he didn’t trust that Hamas would be willing to release a large number of hostages and that it would suffice with releasing very small numbers, while Israel would have a much harder time relaunching its fighting after three days. He highlighted that international pressure would surely mount.
Over 10,500 people in Gaza, majority children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and ground combat since Hamas launched its surprise attack on October 7.
