Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday night announced that he has directed talks to begin for the release of all hostages who remain held in Gaza. He announced it while touring troops at the border.
Netanyahu also confirmed that his cabinet approved a massive attack on Gaza City in the strip’s north. “These two issues go together, defeating Hamas and returning all of our hostages,” he said.
Ceasefire Plan Rejected
Early in the week, Hamas indicated that it accepted a proposal made by Egypt and Qatar for a 60-day truce. The agreement would have released approximately half of the hostages. Israel will not agree. Israel’s office said that Israel will only agree to a deal that releases all the hostages simultaneously.
Israeli authorities informed domestic media that mediators will be dispatched once a venue for the talks is established. Relatives of the captives have been demanding quicker action, fearing their loved ones will not live to see its success.
Battles Rage On In Gaza
While negotiations are in the making, combat has not abated. Inhabitants of Gaza City described intense bombing in the city’s east on Thursday. The Israeli military has also cautioned that the whole city population, some one million people, could have to be evacuated before the entry of ground troops.
The war started on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel, killing about 1,200 individuals and holding 251 hostages. Over 62,000 people have been killed in Israeli bombing and combat since then, the Gaza health ministry reports. Those numbers are employed by the United Nations and other global organizations as the best available estimate.
FAQs
- What did Netanyahu announce?
He called for fresh negotiations to release all the hostages and reaffirmed plans for a major Gaza City attack.
- Why did Israel turn down the ceasefire proposal?
Because it released only part of the hostages, and not all of them.
- How many hostages are still being held?
Israel estimates about 50 are still in Gaza, but only an estimated 20 could still be alive.
- What’s currently going on in Gaza?
Air raids and shelling are ongoing, and the army is gearing up to push into Gaza City.
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