The situation at a glance: Israel: Millions of dollars for hostages – struggle for a ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is offering a reward of five million dollars (4.7 million euros) for the freedom of each of the approximately 100 remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip. During a visit to the embattled coastal area on Tuesday, he promised those involved in a release or liberation and their families safe passage abroad. The UN Security Council is also dealing with the hostages today (4 p.m. CET): The body is to vote again on a resolution that calls for the release of the hostages and an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas.

However, diplomats expressed the expectation that the USA would block the draft resolution with a veto. Meanwhile, hopes for a ceasefire in Lebanon are rising: According to media reports, the US mediator for the Middle East, Amos Hochstein, could travel to Israel today for further talks. On Tuesday, after initial talks in the Lebanese capital Beirut, he appeared optimistic and said that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon was “within reach.”

In addition to the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel is also waging a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to Israel’s own statements, this fire is being carried out in support of Hamas, which carried out a massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023 that left around 1,200 dead. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground offensive.

Netanyahu in the embattled Gaza Strip

During his visit to the embattled Gaza Strip, Netanyahu also warned, according to a statement from his office, that anyone who harmed the hostages would pay a “heavy price.” “We will pursue you and we will find you.” Under no circumstances will Hamas control the Gaza Strip in the future. “We are in the process of eliminating their military capabilities in a very impressive way.”

The Islamist Hamas rejected an earlier offer to free the hostages by paying a reward as a farce. The hostages will only be released if there is an agreement that provides for an end to the war and the blockade and enables the reconstruction of the coastal strip.

Of the approximately 250 people abducted from Israel during the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, around 100 are still being held in the Gaza Strip, although many of them are no longer expected to be alive. Relatives accuse Netanyahu of preventing an agreement on the release in order to keep the war going and keep himself in power.

US mediator: Ceasefire possible in the coming days

However, there are signs of relaxation in the fight between Israel’s military and Hezbollah. US mediator Hochstein said on Tuesday that there was now an “important opportunity” to reach a ceasefire between the conflicting parties – hopefully “in the coming days”. However, there are still “gaps to close” until an agreement is reached.

Details about a supposed US proposal have been circulating in the media for weeks. According to Lebanese security circles, Israel and Hezbollah should initially suspend their attacks for 60 days. The Israeli army is to leave Lebanon and Lebanese army soldiers are to be stationed at the border. After 60 days, Israel and Lebanon are also expected to hold negotiations on the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 to completely end hostilities. Hezbollah is said to see the US draft as a basis for further negotiations.

Israel continues attacks in Lebanon

Despite attempts at mediation, Israel continues its attacks in Lebanon. Israel’s military reportedly bombed targets near the Lebanese port city of Tyre. More than six air strikes hit houses and buildings in the town of Husch, around four kilometers from the coastal town, as the newspaper “L’Orient Le Jour” reported.

The state news agency NNA reported heavy artillery fire on the Lebanese village of Jamark, about eleven kilometers from the demarcation line in the south of the country, as darkness fell. It was the first time since the beginning of the war that Israel had shelled the area with artillery.

In addition, according to Lebanese information, three soldiers were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The attack took place on a military facility in the southern town of Sarafand, the Lebanese armed forces said. When asked, the Israeli military said the incident was being investigated.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, the number of victims since the outbreak of hostilities between the Israeli military and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia has risen to 3,544 dead and 15,036 injured. According to the information, 671 women and 231 minors were among the fatalities.

Four soldiers from the UN peacekeeping force Unifil were also injured in Lebanon. Blue helmet soldiers from the West African country of Ghana suffered injuries when a rocket hit their base, the mission said. According to Unifil’s assessment, the shelling “most likely” came from a non-state group. This refers to militias like Hezbollah.

Around 540,000 people fled from Lebanon to Syria

According to the UN, around 540,000 people have fled to neighboring civil war-torn Syria since the war between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in Lebanon. As the UN emergency relief office OCHA reported, around two thirds of the refugees coming from Lebanon were Syrians and around a third were Lebanese citizens.

According to government figures, around 1.5 million Syrian refugees lived in Lebanon before the latest escalation in the conflict with Israel. Most of them had come to Lebanon since 2011 as a result of the civil war in their home country. Around six million people live in Lebanon.