Israel and Hamas are reportedly exploring the possibility of a new ceasefire agreement that includes the release of hostages held by the Gaza-ruling terror group since its shocking attack on Israel on October 7.
Two Egyptian sources revealed on Sunday that Hamas is insisting on unilaterally deciding on the next hostages to be freed and is calling for Israeli troops to withdraw to pre-set lines.
However, Israel rejected the latter condition, demanding to see the list of hostages before agreeing to the time and duration of the ceasefire.
The backdrop of this negotiation includes the previous temporary truce brokered by Qatar and Egypt in late November. During that truce, Hamas released 105 civilians out of the approximately 240 hostages taken from Israel on October 7 over the course of seven days.
This release was part of a broader agreement that also involved a temporary cessation of hostilities, an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners on a 3-to-1 ratio, focusing on women and underage males.
The majority of the hostages released between November 24 and December 1 were Israeli women and children, released in groups of 10 to 12 daily.
Additionally, Hamas freed foreign nationals, predominantly Thai citizens, as part of separate agreements that did not directly involve Israel.
Under the terms of the weeklong truce, Hamas would provide Israel with a list of hostages set for release the following day for approval.
Unfortunately, the pause in fighting collapsed ahead of the eighth day when Hamas failed to propose a list of hostages acceptable to Israel, deviating from the agreed-upon plan to release all women and children first.
Instead, the terror group communicated through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, expressing readiness to release male hostages. Hamas also suggested releasing the bodies of hostages it claimed were killed during captivity.
The current negotiations indicate a renewed effort to find common ground and bring stability to the region.
The sticking point appears to be the unilateral decision-making by Hamas on hostage releases, which Israel is hesitant to accept without prior knowledge of the hostages’ identities.
As both sides navigate this delicate negotiation, the hope is for a resolution that addresses immediate concerns and lays the groundwork for a more enduring peace in the region.
The coming days will reveal the outcome of these delicate discussions and their potential impact on the longstanding conflict.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members