A senior US administration official said Friday that there is no guarantee that efforts to release the hostages will succeed or a time frame for achieving it. On the 7th of last month, Hamas was able to seize more than 240 hostages after a surprise attack against Israel. The movement has so far released only four of them, two Americans and two Israelis. The United States admitted that its unarmed forces carried out flights over the Gaza Strip to help Israel determine the whereabouts of the hostages.
Published on: 04/11/2023 – 01:32
3 minutes
While international efforts continue to release Hostages Detainees held by the Hamas movement, a senior US administration official confirmed on Friday that Washington is making intensive efforts to achieve this goal. But the official warned that there is no guarantee of the success of this effort or a time frame for achieving it. Hamas has so far released four hostages, but it is still holding more than 200 hostages it took after its surprise attack on Israel on the 7th of last month.
The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, added that there is “indirect contact” aimed at finding a framework for removing the hostages from Gaza, but it is very difficult.
Many hostages are still inside Gaza, which is subject to Israeli air strikes and ground attacks, in addition to a siege imposed by the Israeli army.
The US official said it would take “a significant cessation of the conflict” to extract the hostages. But Israel stressed that it rejects a truce, stressing that it is continuing with its goal of eliminating Hamas.
He continued, “The release of the hostages is a matter that is subject to very serious and active discussion. There is no agreement yet to actually accomplish this matter, but it is something we are working on very seriously.”
He added, “We are optimistic and are doing everything we can to get the hostages out, but there is no guarantee at all that this will happen or when it will happen.”
He said, “We will do everything in our power to ensure the exit of all hostages of all nationalities from Gaza, so there is an active process taking place amid multi-directional efforts, including indirect communication, to try to reach a framework for the exit of the hostages from Gaza.”
The official explained that the administration is also negotiating with Hamas about allowing foreign citizens trapped in the Strip safe passage out of Gaza. He said that the talks are difficult and include an effort by Hamas to expel some of its fighters.
Hamas had previously announced the killing of a number of hostages in the intense Israeli bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip. The movement confirmed on Wednesday that seven hostages, including three holding foreign passports, were killed in the Israeli bombing of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
The movement expressed its readiness to release the hostages it kidnapped during its attack on Israel in exchange for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.
France 24/AFP/Reuters
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2023-11-04 00:32:23
