Jerusalem’s Ambassador Discusses Gaza Hostage Situation
The ongoing conflict in Gaza seems unlikely to resolve unless Hamas yields all 48 hostages, both deceased and alive, and disarms completely. This message was highlighted by Jerusalem’s ambassador to the United States, Echiel Leiter, during an interview on Thursday.
There’s an expectation that the Israeli government will support a peace proposal first put forward by former President Donald Trump, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to late last month.
Yet, doubts linger about Hamas’ willingness and capability to return all deceased hostages within 72 hours, as stipulated in the agreement commencing Friday night.
Countdown Begins for Hostage Release
Addressing the concerns regarding Hamas’ ability to facilitate this immediate return, Leiter stated, “They are obligated to return everyone within 72 hours. Hopefully, they can manage everything by then.” He acknowledged that there are several issues to resolve, emphasizing the need for all bodies to be returned before Israel can take further steps.
He noted that Hamas has not been meticulous in tracking the locations of the deceased hosts, adding that Israel won’t pull its troops from the Gaza Strip until all bodies are accounted for. Moreover, an international team, including representatives from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, has been organized to assist in retrieving the bodies. However, there has been no indication from the White House regarding the U.S.’s exact involvement or if American troops would participate in this mission.
This agreement came after extensive discussions involving U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators over several days, but it’s still uncertain if modifications were made to the original 20-point plan proposed by Trump.
Disarmament Concerns
Recent reports have indicated that Hamas is against total disarmament and might be offered a chance to relocate to another country instead. Leiter, however, was unable to confirm whether there was an official agreement regarding disarmament terms. “I’m optimistic things will follow the president’s plan,” he mentioned. “Still, we anticipate difficulties, as has been our experience with Hamas and similar groups.”
Leiter expressed skepticism, asserting that Hamas seems to be on the brink of collapse, suggesting this shift indicates a sort of surrender, even if they may resist it with efforts to maintain relevance.
Phased Approach to Peace
The initial phase does not include disarmament, but it focuses on the complete return of all hostages and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, alongside the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences for various crimes. The second phase would involve a total Israeli troop withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and establishing an international “peace agency” to help rebuild Gaza.
Leiter acknowledged that the second phase of the agreement could potentially falter but insisted, “At this moment, we’re concentrating entirely on the first phase.” Disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza have been consistent goals of Prime Minister Netanyahu, prompting Leiter to emphasize the necessity of preventing jihadists from occupying Israel’s borders to avoid a repeat of past conflicts. “It’s a straightforward process; they disarm, and then we can consider withdrawal,” he affirmed.
