The project “takes into account recent events in the region”. Israel announced Monday that it had discussed with foreign negotiators meeting in Qatar a new draft agreement on the release of hostages held in Gaza, at a time when the war rages against Hamas in the Palestinian territory and against Hezbollah in Lebanon. .
The head of Mossad, Israeli foreign intelligence, David Barnea, met in Qatar with CIA chief Bill Burns and the Qatari Prime Minister to discuss this “new draft agreement”, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office announced, Benjamin Netanyahu. Discussions “will continue in the coming days between the mediators and Hamas” around this project which “integrates previous proposals and takes into account recent events in the region”, indicated the Prime Minister’s office, probably in reference to the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinouar.
The day before, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, whose country is one of the mediators with the United States and Qatar, had proposed a two-day ceasefire “during which four Israeli hostages held at Gaza would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This truce would be followed “within ten days” by negotiations with a view to a “complete ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid” into the territory, strictly controlled by Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu indicated on Monday that Israel had not received this Egyptian proposal. “If this proposal had been made, the Prime Minister would have immediately accepted it,” his spokesperson said.
US President Joe Biden said Monday that his teams were taking stock of ongoing efforts towards a ceasefire. “We must stop this war. It has to stop, it has to stop, it has to stop,” he repeated.
Despite international pressure, Israel continues its offensive against Hamas and Hezbollah, two Islamist movements supported by Iran, after carrying out strikes on Saturday against military targets on Iranian territory.
In Israel, the attack of October 7, 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli data, including hostages killed or died in captivity. Of the 251 people kidnapped during the attack, 97 remain hostages in Gaza, 34 of whom were declared dead by the army.
