Location at a glance: USA put pressure on Hamas – Israel examines further steps

The US government calls on Islamist Hamas with emphasis on the immediate release of further hostages from the Gaza Strip. Washington rejected an offer of Hamas to hand over the last still living Israeli-American double national in return for Israeli concessions. As suggested by the US specialist Steve Witkoff, the terrorist organization would have to release several hostages immediately or it would “pay a high price”, it said in a written statement that the National Security Council and Witkoff’s office issued.

Israel’s government accuses Hamas manipulation and psychological warfare. According to his office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to convene a ministerial meeting this evening in order to be informed by the Israeli negotiating delegation and to “decide steps to liberate the hostages and to achieve all of our war goals”. Israel’s war destinations belong to the complete destruction of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The USA and Israel reject Hamas offer

At a mediator meeting in the Golf state of Qatar, Witkoff had presented an updated proposal for an extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Accordingly, Hamas would have to hand over at least five living hostages and the remains of about nine kidnapped people on the first day of the ceasefire extension, while in return, Israel should again allow aid deliveries to Gaza.

However, Hamas only offered to hand over the Israeli -American dual national and the corpses of four abducted Israelis with also double nationality – whereby it was open which other nationalities are. Hamas demands that there are discussions about the second phase of the original agreement.

This phase provides for the full deduction of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, a permanent end of the war and the release of the remaining hostages. However, Israel wants to keep the option open to resume the fight against Hamas. While Israel’s government accepted Witkoff’s further proposal, Hamas stays on her refusal course and continued her “Psychological War against the Geisel Families”, the Netanyah’s office said.

USA threatens the Islamists

“Unfortunately, Hamas has decided to publicly assert flexibility while making privately claims that are completely impractical without permanent ceasefire,” said Witkoff’s office and the National Security Council. The Hamas rely on “that the time is on its side. It is not.” If the Palestinian terrorist organization does not meet all demands in time, the United States would “react accordingly”.

After the agents of the USA, Egypt and Qatar did not succeed in bridging the trenches between Israel and Hamas in the talks in the Qatarian capital Doha, the talks could continue in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Hamas said that her negotiation team was already on the way there, wrote the “Wall Street Journal”.

Worry in Israel for remaining hostages

According to Israeli information, various Islamist groups in the Gaza Strip have 24 living hostages and 35 corpses in their violence. A total of five of them also have American citizenship, but four of them should already be dead. The most recent explanation of Hamas in Israel aroused fear that hostages with double citizenship – especially those with a American passport – will be handed over, while those who have none remain.