Is Israel backing ceasefire for hostage deal?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
According to a media report, Israel is proposing a two-month ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war , which has now been going on for more than 100 days. The offer was handed over to the intermediaries from Egypt and Qatar , reports the news portal "Axios. This should lead to the release of all hostages still in the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas , which rules the Gaza Strip .
There are still 136 hostages in the hands of Hamas
The author of the article, the well-known and well-connected Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, cited two unnamed Israeli government officials. Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and other extremist groups on areas in southern Israel, the terrorists are still detaining 136 people in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli government figures.
A two-month ceasefire would be the most far-reaching offer of its kind ever made by the Israeli government. During a week-long ceasefire at the end of November, Hamas released 105 hostages. In return, Israel had released 240 Palestinian prisoners from its prisons. Since then, Israel's government has shown little willingness to release more hostages.
Hostage relatives put pressure on Netanyahu
Now that around 25 kidnapping victims are no longer alive, criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has increased. Last weekend, thousands of people again demonstrated in Israel to force them to make more serious efforts to free hostages.
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www.axios.com /2024/01/22/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-hostages
Scoop: Israel proposes 2-month fighting pause in Gaza for release of all hostages
Barak Ravid 4-6 minutes 1/22/2024
Israel has given Hamas a proposal through Qatari and Egyptian mediators that includes up to two months of a pause in the fighting as part of a multi-phase deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza, two Israeli officials said.
Why it matters: While the proposal doesn't include an agreement to end the fighting, it is the longest period of ceasefire that Israel has offered Hamas since the start of the war.
Driving the news: More than 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Israeli officials say several dozen hostages either died on Oct. 7 or in the weeks since then.
Behind the scenes: Two Israeli officials said the Israeli war cabinet approved 10 days ago the parameters of a new proposal for a hostage deal, which are different from past aspects of deals rejected by Hamas and more forward-leaning than previous Israeli proposals.
Details: The officials said Israel proposed the overall period of pause for the completion of the release of all hostages in the different phases could reach up to two months.
What they're saying: White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Monday that President Biden supports a pause in the fighting that would enable the release of hostages and the entry of more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Between the lines: Israeli officials said they are ready to release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners if Hamas agrees to the offer.
A two month cease fire might lead to a four and six month cease fire, and then an end to this madness.
Do it.
The deal reportedly contains a requirement for named Hamas leaders to leave Gaza permanently, which would be a good requirement to attach.
The problem is, is that Hamas always breaks the ceasefire. The Hamas thugs will never agree to step down.
Hamas could just release all the hostages at once. Keeping them has not gained them any strategic advantage or inspired any greater sympathy for the Palestinian civilians.
Israel will need to keep some amount of military presence in Gaza for the foreseeable future to root out the remnants of the Hamas terrorists.
From this report, Hamas has already rejected this proposal.
As JR mentioned above in his post 21 IDF soldiers were killed yesterday it's now up to 24, and 3 more were killed in another incident.
100 days in and no end in sight and Hamas is nowhere near being defeated. With Hamas's response to the two-month cease fire I don't see them giving an inch to Israel in the near future which means Israel will get deeper into the war, and politics in Israel will really get heated.