Hamas on Monday appears to have abandoned a deal to release Israeli hostages in exchange for a four-month cease-fire meant to buy time to plan an end to the war, according to a new report.
Leaders of the Palestinian terror group rushed to criticize the peace plan negotiated in Paris over the weekend, saying they want a “complete and comprehensive ceasefire” before any other agreement is reached, the paper said. It seems so. era of israel.
The stance was announced a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said recent talks between international mediators and terrorists were “constructive.”
U.S. representatives, including CIA Director William J. Burns, met with the Qatari prime minister over the weekend to discuss an updated peace proposal calling for a four-month ceasefire. The Wall Street Journal said:.
During the first six weeks of the ceasefire, women, children and elderly hostages were supposed to be released by Hamas in return for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners and allowing aid to Gaza, the magazine said.
Later, female members of the Israel Defense Forces held by Hamas will be freed, followed by male soldiers and finally human remains.
The deal included assurances to Hamas that the United States and other international leaders would reach a deal within four months to end the war, the newspaper reported.
In the weeks since Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages in an October 7 attack on Israel, the Jewish state’s leaders have vowed not to stop until the terror group is completely eradicated.
Israeli officials told the Journal that the country is “fully committed to the release of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas” and that “we will continue to take every step to ensure the release of all hostages.” .
The current plan is just the latest in a series of ceasefire and peace proposals put forward since the conflict began.
Just last week, negotiations over a one-month ceasefire in exchange for hostages and prisoners of war broke down after Hamas refused to proceed unless Hamas fully withdraws Israeli forces from Gaza. 25,000 people died.
Days earlier, Hamas said the two sides were once again at an impasse and there was “no possibility of the return of the prisoners.”
A week-long ceasefire was successfully secured in November, resulting in the release of more than 100 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners before fighting resumed.
