Netanyahu wants to send delegation for further negotiations on hostage release
Announcements regarding the departure date of the delegation or the location of the talks were not made by Netanyahu's office. Netanyahu's government is under heavy pressure due to the fact that since the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, numerous Israelis have been held captive as hostages in the Gaza Strip. Regular mass demonstrations take place in Israel for this reason.
In Thursday's statement, it was emphasized that Israel is "above all determined to end the war only when all goals are achieved." The government has repeatedly stated that this includes not only the release of all hostages but also the destruction of Hamas.
The Hamas announced on Wednesday that they had presented new "ideas" to the mediators on how the Gaza War could be brought to an end. The radical Islamic Palestinian organization reportedly held talks with representatives of Qatar and Egypt, as well as being in contact with Turkey over this matter.
Israel responded that they were examining the Hamas statements and would then answer the mediators. According to media reports, Netanyahu called a meeting of his Security Cabinet for Thursday evening to discuss the Hamas proposals.
The unprecedented attack by Hamas fighters and other militant Palestinian groups on Israel on October 7 led to the outbreak of the Gaza War. According to Israeli reports, 1195 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. 116 of these individuals are still being held by Hamas, 42 of whom are reportedly already dead according to the Israeli army.
In response to the attack, Israel has been conducting massive military operations in the Gaza Strip since then. According to reports from the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry on Sunday, which cannot be independently verified, over 38,000 people have been killed in these operations.
In this conflict, in addition to Qatar and Egypt, the US is also trying to mediate. On May 31, US President Biden presented a plan for an agreement between the warring parties, which he described as an Israeli proposal. The multi-stage concept included an "immediate and complete" ceasefire and the gradual release of all hostages.
- Netanyahu's office has not revealed any details about the departure date or location of the negotiation delegation with Hamas, facing intense pressure due to numerous Israelis being held as hostages in the Gaza Strip by the radical Islamic Palestinian organization.
- Given the ongoing hostage crisis, regular mass demonstrations have become a common sight in Israel, calling for the release of the captives and an end to the conflict.
- Following the Hamas announcement of new ideas for ending the Gaza War, Netanyahu's Security Cabinet held an emergency meeting on Thursday evening to examine and discuss the proposals, which reportedly involved talks with representatives from Qatar and Egypt, along with Turkey.
- Israel's stated conditions for ending the conflict include not only the release of all hostages but also the destruction of Hamas, emphasizing their commitment to achieving all goals before ending the war.
- In an effort to mediate the conflict, the US, alongside Qatar and Egypt, has been involved in negotiations, with President Biden presenting an Israeli-proposed multi-stage plan including an "immediate and complete" ceasefire and the gradual release of all hostages, held captive since the Hamas attack on October 7.
