A senior Israeli official involved in the negotiations for the release of the hostages told AFP on Monday that Israel knew with certainty that several dozen hostages held in Gaza were alive.
AFP
“Dozens (of hostages) are definitely alive,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. “We can’t leave them there for long, they will die,” he added.
Of 251 people kidnapped during the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israel on October 7, 116 are still being held hostage in Gaza, of whom 41 are dead, according to the army
After more than eight months of war, the United States is striving to obtain an agreement on the basis of a draft presented at the end of May by American President Joe Biden and providing, in a first phase, a ceasefire of six weeks accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated areas of Gaza, the release of certain hostages held in Gaza and the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Green light for the Biden plan
While negotiations seem to be stalling, the Israeli negotiator reiterated Israel’s refusal to immediately accept a permanent ceasefire. “We cannot, at this point – before we sign an agreement – commit to ending the war,” the official said.
“Because during the first phase there is a clause that we hold negotiations on the second phase. The second phase is the release of the hostage men and soldiers,” he explained.
The official said the Israeli negotiating team had given the green light to the Biden plan, but the Israeli government had not yet done so.
“We hope and expect that Hamas will say yes,” he said while the Palestinian Islamist movement continues to demand the establishment of a permanent ceasefire before any agreement on the release of the hostages (in exchanges of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel).
ATS
