Gaza War: Hopes Rise for Hostage Release in New Israel-Hamas Negotiations.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to send a team to Qatar to continue talks about hostages and a possible ceasefire in Gaza, his office said on Thursday.
The delegation will include experts from the Israel Security Agency (ISA), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency. They will meet in Doha, Qatar’s capital, for the discussions.
These indirect talks between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing, even though official negotiations have been stuck for months. The United States, led by President Joe Biden, has been trying to push for a deal.
In December, a diplomatic source told CNN that the proposed deal is similar to the one President Biden suggested earlier in 2024. This plan, introduced in May, had three phases. It involved a complete ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.
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The first phase of the plan would last six weeks. During this time, Israeli forces would leave all populated areas of Gaza, and hostages like women, the elderly, and the injured would be released. In return, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be freed. However, the latest information suggests that Israeli forces might remain temporarily in certain areas of Gaza, such as the Philadelphi corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border and the Netzarim corridor within Gaza.
One of the main reasons talks failed in August was the disagreement over Israeli troops staying in the Philadelphi corridor. Hamas wanted them to leave completely, while Israel insisted they remain.
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In November, Qatar stopped mediating because neither side seemed willing to agree. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of causing the delay. Last week, Hamas said Israel introduced new demands, while Netanyahu accused Hamas of breaking prior agreements.
Still, in December, there are signs of cautious hope from both sides about reaching a deal. Families of hostages, represented by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, welcomed the news of renewed talks but urged speed. “We cannot miss this chance! The 100 hostages in Hamas tunnels do not have time for delays,” the group said on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
During a short ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Egypt in late 2023, more than 100 hostages were released in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. But when talks broke down, Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza.
Since the war began, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that over 45,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 108,400 injured. Israel launched the war after Hamas killed over 1,200 people and kidnapped more than 250 on October 7, 2023.
Israeli airstrikes have hit homes, hospitals, and areas meant for humanitarian aid. Many people displaced by earlier bombings have had to flee again in harsh winter conditions. Recently, Israeli forces surrounded the last major hospital in northern Gaza and arrested its director. Israel said this was due to renewed Hamas activity in the area, though CNN could not confirm this independently.
Meanwhile, limited humanitarian aid is reaching Gaza, leading to severe shortages of food, shelter, and essential supplies. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other organizations continue to call for more aid to be allowed into Gaza.
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