Israel Ready To Release Hundreds Of Palestinians For 40 Hostages; Hamas Wants More
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel has agreed to release “some 700-800 Palestinian prisoners” in return for 40 hostages as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, but Hamas rejected the deal, several Israeli sources said Wednesday.
Last week, Worthy News quoted officials close to the talks as saying that Israel “offered a six-week ceasefire” during the prisoner exchanges with Hamas, which is holding Israelis.
During mediated talks, Israel agreed to a compromise proposed by the U.S. regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, Israeli media reported.
However, Hamas reportedly told mediators that it would maintain its original position of a ceasefire “including the withdrawal of Israel’s military from the Gaza Strip.”
The group deemed a terrorist organization by Israel, also demands the return of Palestinians to their homes and exchanging prisoners, Worthy News monitored.
It was unlikely that Israel would agree with the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza now. The Israeli government says it seeks the destruction of Hamas because it massacred 1,200 people in Israel on October 7 following previous attacks.
It also kidnapped some 253 people, of whom 134 hostages are still held by Hamas, according to Israeli officials.
PROVIDE RELIEF
Without naming its atrocities, Hamas demanded “to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza and provide relief and assistance to them.”
They also stressed “the return of displaced persons to their homes and the withdrawal of occupation forces from the sector.”
Israel says much relief has either been taken by Hamas or sold on markets for high prices, causing hardship.
Hamas said its demands are part of a “comprehensive framework” of “principles and foundations deemed necessary for an agreement.”
The Hamas-run health ministry claims more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war against Hamas, but those figures have not been verified independently.
Both sides are under pressure to reach a deal after, on Monday, the United Nations Security Council, for the first time, adopted a resolution calling for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
The United States shifted its position and abstained from voting, prompting an angry reaction from Israel, which also canceled a high-level visit to Washington.
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