A step forward towards a peaceful end to hostilities? The Israeli Foreign Ministry has named Alon Roth-Snir, the next ambassador to New Zealand, as chief negotiator for the hostages who have been in the hands of Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip for a month. His task, explained Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, will be to “promote international efforts in a range of forums that contribute to the rapid release of all hostages.” That means he will lead international efforts to pressure Hamas to release the 241 hostages, including Israelis and foreigners, who were kidnapped on October 7.
Shuli Davidovich, currently Israel’s Foreign Ministry Coordinator for Prisoners and Missing Persons, will continue to serve as the ministry’s representative on the team led by Roth-Snir. The two will also be the contact persons for the families of the hostages. Since the conflict began, only four women abducted by Hamas have been released, all on humanitarian grounds.
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