Israel is currently engaged in discussions with Hamas to secure a ceasefire agreement aimed at facilitating the release of its hostages held in Gaza. Ezzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, revealed this development, stating that Israel is keen on reaching a temporary truce to facilitate the release of its prisoners, with the intention of resuming military operations afterward. Al-Rishq emphasized that Israel's previous attempts to secure the release of hostages through force have been unsuccessful, underscoring the necessity of a genuine agreement with the resistance.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, al-Rishq stressed that a lasting ceasefire is essential to safeguard the Palestinian populace and halt the ongoing violence and bloodshed. He reiterated Hamas' stance, advocating for the complete withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza and the repatriation of displaced individuals to their homes without constraint.
Mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are underway to broker a deal between Hamas and Israel, focusing on a potential exchange of prisoners and the establishment of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli estimates, approximately 134 Israelis remain in captivity in Gaza, while Hamas has reported that 70 of them were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, HaMoked, an Israeli human rights organization, has documented that over 9,000 Palestinians are currently detained in Israeli prisons, with some fatalities occurring since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023.
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