Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Saturday the resumption of indirect negotiations with Hamas in Qatar for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the attack by the Palestinian movement in Israel on October 7, 2023.
The minister informed the parents of the hostage Liri Albag, a video of her alive was broadcast on Saturday by Hamas, “of the ongoing efforts to free the hostages, in particular the Israeli delegation that left yesterday (Friday) for talks in Qatar,” his office said in a statement.
He added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had given “specific directives for the continuation of negotiations.”
Hamas announced Friday that negotiations were resuming in Doha with a view to obtaining a truce in the Gaza Strip, specifying that they would include a “complete cessation of hostilities” between Israel and Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke with the parents of Liri Albag, a 19-year-old woman kidnapped while doing her military service at the Nahal Oz base in southern Israel.
“The Prime Minister promised (to the family) that Israel continues to act tirelessly for the return home of Liri and all the hostages, and that efforts continue, including at this time,” underlined his office in a press release.
-Despite intense diplomatic efforts led under the aegis of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, no truce has been concluded since that of a week at the end of November 2023, which allowed the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Negotiations took place in December in Doha, but Hamas and Israel accused each other of stopping them.
With AFP
Belgium
