War in Gaza
Hamas is only partially in parts
Islamists show flexibility under the impression of the loss of war and the suffering of the population in Gaza. But they also formulate objections that stand in the way of a ceasefire.
The Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip has agreed to the U.S. broker Steve Witkoff’s ceasefire plan at a central point – but not in some more. As the organization announced in its telegram channel, its answer to the USA contains a commitment to the partial release of Israeli hostages in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
The Witkoff-Plan stipulates that 10 hostages and the remains of 18 other victims of Hamas are handed over to Israel during a 60-day ceasefire. Israel assumes that 20 to 23 living hostages and at least 35 corpses of abducted people are currently in the violence of Hamas.
Objections to other parts of the US plan
According to the Witkoff plan, the two sides should negotiate the release of the war during the 60-day ceasefire about the release of the remaining hostages.
There is no guarantee of the final cessation of the fighting – this has been a central demand for Hamas so far. Apparently the terrorist organization adheres to it. “Guarantees against the resumption of aggression” were transmitted as the part of the answer to Witkoff, the news agency dpa learned from Hamas circles.
The Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strictly rejects a ceasefire in which all hostages come and the war comes to an end. Critics accuse her of wanting to continue the war unlimited for domestic reasons.
In the Gaza Strip there is a risk of famine
With the concession of a partial freedom of hostage, Hamas has moved towards Israel in the negotiations – probably also under the impression of its massive losses in the war and the catastrophic situation of the oppressed population of the Gaza Strip. There is a threat of famine there.
At the same time, the answer to the Witkoff plan seems to contain several Hamas claims that aim at the change. The Islamists want a long-stretched timing of the hostage clearance than is intended in the document of the US mediator. According to DPA information, they also want Israel’s military to withdraw from the Gaza Strip to a more comprehensive extent after the ceasefire came into force than the Witkoff plan provides for.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
