Israel, “possible negotiations on hostage release”, but Hamas backs down

Israel could enter into negotiations with Hamas for the release of hostages kidnapped in the October 7 attack. A particularly delicate agreement that, apparently, has already been blocked by Hamas after the “opening” of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The first indiscretion regarding the possible agreement came from the USA. A Biden administration official spoke of a deal involving the release of about 80 women and children in exchange for Palestinian women and children detained by Israel. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later said that “there are active discussions ongoing between Israel and Qatar, which is communicating with Hamas” and that “the United States is involved in those discussions.” Israeli Prime Minister Netanayahu himself admitted that “there could be” a potential agreement for the release of approximately 239 hostages held by Hamas. “I think the less I say, the more I increase the chances of the deal coming to fruition,” Netanyahu said. A possibility that, however, seems destined to be quite remote, at least for now. Hamas, in fact, has made it known that it intends to suspend negotiations on the release of hostages in its hands due to the Israeli attacks on al-Shifa hospital in Gaza city.

Furthermore, the situation in Gaza hospitals is the situation that most worries the international community and has led Palestinian authorities to speak of an “ongoing catastrophe”. In particular, near al-Shifa, the largest hospital center in Gaza, intense fighting is ongoing which, according to Palestinian authorities, has led to the facility being “non-operational” with the consequent repercussions on patients. At least twelve victims in hospital, including two newborns, due to power outages. Netanyahu said he offered fuel for the facilities, but Hamas refused. Hospital director Abu Salmiya said medical staff and patients were ready for an immediate evacuation of the hospital “if Israel allows it.” At the same time, the prime minister said that Israel is doing everything to allow the evacuation of civilians and hospital patients, opening humanitarian corridors even from large hospitals. Once again, however, according to Netanyahu, it is Hamas that is “endangering” the population of Gaza.

The Israeli Prime Minister also addressed the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to ask Hamas to respect international law and not blame Israel for the deaths of civilians. For his part, Guterres said he had spoken to Iranian authorities to urge them to convince Hamas to release the hostages “immediately and unconditionally” and added that the “horrible things” committed by Hamas “cannot be used as a reason to collectively punish the Palestinian people.”

However, crossfire continues on the border with Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces reported an attack that injured six civilians. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the missile attack. The Israeli army then reported another mortar attack also coming from Lebanon, in which seven soldiers were injured. Israeli forces said they responded to these attacks and struck several Hezbollah locations and eliminated two more terrorist cells. After three days of blockade, the Rafah crossing was finally reopened, which allowed several foreigners (around 80) and injured Palestinians to leave Gaza and head to Egypt.