Hamas shows desperate hostage call - hope for ceasefire is growing!

Hamas shows desperate hostage call - hope for ceasefire is growing!

In the middle of the continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas, hope for a possible ceasefire and the release of hostages becomes concrete. Hamas has published a video of an Israeli hostage in which the man calls for help and talks about the psychological pressure from which he suffers. His family approved the publication of the video, and it remains unclear the circumstances under which it was accepted and whether the man did this voluntarily. This reports the Krone .

In this context, Hamas boss Khalil al-Hayya announced that the organization was willing to free five hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire. This proposal was initiated by Egypt and accepted by Hamas. Israel, on the other hand, has submitted a counter offer that demands the release of at least ten hostages, although it remains unclear whether the corpse of deported is also included in the negotiations. The fire break is to begin after the festive days of the Eid al-Fitr, which will start on Sunday. Israeli media report that Hamas is under pressure because there are already protests against their rule in the Gaza Strip.

hostage status and protests

The UNESCO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes the inhuman conditions in the Gaza Strip and demands a break to clear the al-Shifa hospital, in which over 260 patients and 25 employees are stuck. In addition, the UN human rights commissioner Volker Türk expresses his horror about the situation in the Gaza area and the attacks on civilians.

international reactions and outlook

International actors, including the US government, have rejected reports on an agreement that has already been achieved with regard to ceasefire and hostage freedom and emphasizes that a solution continues to work. US President Joe Biden recently confirmed the support for a two-state solution and demanded that there should be no displacement or re-occupation. He also announced that the United States was willing to examine sanctions against Israeli extremists who attack civilians in West Bank.

The conditions for a ceasefire required by Hamas also include the release of Palestinian prisoners and the import of fuel in the Gaza Strip. Israel's war cabinet has already given the green light for the import of two tanker trains fuel per day. Qatarian Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani estimated the obstacles to a ceasefire as "very low", while the public and international organizations follow the developments carefully to bring about a permanent solution.