Hamas confirmed that the US administration had sent it, through mediators, a new proposal for an agreement for the release of the hostages and the establishment of a ceasefire.
The terrorist organization said that this new proposal included “slight changes” compared to the one set out by Joe Biden a few weeks ago and endorsed by the Israeli war cabinet. It noted “a movement towards a return to the starting point.”
In this context, Hamas’ deputy political bureau chief Mussa Abu Marzuk outlined three factors, which he said could influence Israel:
- “The solidity of the Palestinian people and resistance in the conflict with the Israeli army”
- “The weak position of the United States in the period of elections which could avoid forcing Israel to agree to stop its aggression”
- “The internal division in Israel that is expressed in the relations between Netanyahu and the public and between Netanyahu and the army that could force Netanyahu to stop his aggression.”
Hamas insists that without a total cessation of fighting, which Israel refuses, there can be no agreement.
An Israeli official said Israel still supports President Biden’s previous proposal and is awaiting Hamas’ response to the proposal.
This evening (Saturday), a video of Noa Argamani, freed by Israeli forces three weeks ago, was released by the hostage family headquarters. In this video, she thanks the security forces who freed her and pays tribute to Arrnon Zmora, who fell in combat during this rescue operation. She also thanked “everyone who made our voices heard when we couldn’t.” She recalled that there remained 120 hostages in captivity, including her companion, Avinatan Or, from whom she was separated as soon as they were kidnapped. She called for their immediate release and asked that everything be done to obtain it.
Meanwhile, families of hostages held a protest today (Saturday) in which they spoke out against the prime minister, accusing him of being the main obstacle to an agreement for the release of their loved ones. Slogans such as “We replace him, we bring them back” were featured on the banners, alluding to Netanyahu’s departure from power.
Dany Elgarat, Itzik’s brother, a hostage in Gaza, said: “‘This is the end’, these are the last words Itzik said to me on the phone this Saturday. I heard the disappointment in his voice, that of having been abandoned. Itzik was wrong, this was not the end. We are sure that he survived another 52 days in captivity. We have testimonies from those who saw him. The day of his kidnapping on October 7 was not the end but the beginning of a new abandonment, more serious than the first. It is a voluntary abandonment, planned to achieve a single goal: to remain in power.”
Other hostage relatives said: “What separates us from our loved ones is Netanyahu’s stubbornness. He is prolonging the war for personal reasons, because an agreement would lead to the end of the war, which would lead to elections and the end of his mandate.
