Although Hamas is said to have suspended negotiations on a deal to release hostages, according to Portal news agency, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautious hope that more hostages can be freed from the hands of Islamic Hamas. Asked whether such a deal could happen, Netanyahu told US television network NBC on Sunday: “It could be, but I think the less I say about it, the more likely it is to happen.”
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If this is successful, it will only be the result of military pressure, Netanyahu emphasized. “That’s the only thing that can lead to a deal.” It was only with the ground offensive by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas that there was movement in the negotiations. “We will talk about it when the time comes and announce it when it comes to fruition.”
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Free 80 children and women
NBC and other US media outlets reported, citing government sources, that it was being discussed that Hamas could release about 80 women and children in exchange for Palestinian women and teenagers held in custody in Israel. There has been no official confirmation of this. Netanyahu also did not elaborate on a possible agreement.
National Security Advisor to the US President Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, told broadcaster ABC that negotiations were underway in which Qatar was involved and the US government was actively involved. “Attempts are being made to reach an agreement that includes the release of hostages,” Sullivan said. Biden will not rest until such an agreement is reached.
But Sullivan emphasized: “I have to be careful about what I say publicly about this because of course it is a delicate and sensitive negotiation.” The US government does not have an exact number of hostages. There are only a few people missing. But it’s unclear how many of them are still alive. On the US side, nine people with US citizenship and one person with a permanent residence permit in the US are missing.
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200 people forcibly kidnapped
More than 200 people were forcibly abducted in the devastating attack by Hamas and other groups on Israel in early October. Only a few have been released so far. According to Israel, Hamas still holds 239 people hostage, including women, children and the elderly.