Israel: Hamas offers the return of all remaining hostages

In the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the radical Islamic Palestinian organization according to its own statements is ready to release all remaining hostages together in a handover. This was communicated to the intermediaries, the Hamas representative Taher Al Nunu told the AFP news agency on Wednesday. So far, the hostages had been released gradually. How many Israelis are still dead or alive in the captivity of Hamas, Al Nunu did not say.

The willingness of Hamas to leave the remaining hostages together should “show our seriousness and complete willingness to continue to solve this problem,” said Al Nunu. In addition, Hamas is taking further steps “to consolidate the fire break and the acquisition of a sustainable ceasefire”.

For the first phase of the ceasefire that has been in force since January 19, the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners was agreed. 19 hostages have been released so far. In return, more than 1,100 Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons.

In the coming days, Hamas wants to release ten other prisoners – four dead hostages are to be handed over on Thursday, including two toddlers. Six living Israelis are to be released on Saturday, as the militia announced.

The second phase of the ceasefire, which is scheduled to start on March 2, then provides for the remaining hostage. Negotiations for the modalities of the second phase should have started on February 3. Israel said on Tuesday that the talks with the intermediaries should now begin this week. Subsequently, the agreement, Egypt’s and Qatar’s deals negotiated, provides for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip to initiate in a third phase.

The Hamas had triggered the war in the Gaza Strip and triggered allied groups with their major attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. According to a AFP count based on official Israeli information, 1211 people were killed, 251 hostages were dragged into the Gaza strips. Currently there are still 70 of the deported ones, 34 of them are dead, according to the Israeli army.

Since the Hamas robbery, Israel has massively militarily accomplished in the Gaza Strip. According to the health authority controlled by the Hamas, which are not independently checked, more than 47,290 people were killed. The UN has classified this information as reliable.