International-News

Netanyahu ready for truce deal on Gaza hostages

Israeli PM and Hamas seriously discuss a possible hostage release deal

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu would be ‘ready to make a deal’ for a truce on the hostages still being held in Gaza. This was stated by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during a press conference at the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Sullivan answered questions regarding the hostage negotiations, denying that Netanyahu is stalling waiting for Donald Trump to take office in the White House. ‘No, I don’t have that feeling,‘ Sullivan said, adding that Hamas’ position has weakened since the announcement of the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Goal: close the deal within the month

Sullivan expressed his intention to close the deal within this month, stressing that he would not be in Jerusalem if he thought the issue should be delayed until after 20 January. ‘When I go to Doha, to Cairo, my goal will be to put us in a position to be able to close the deal within this month,’ he said.

Israel stronger after 14 months of war

According to Sullivan, Israel has emerged ‘stronger’ from more than 14 months of war against Hamas, while Iranian proxies have been ‘decimated’. ‘We will ensure that Hamas can never again threaten Israel as it did on 7 October,’ Sullivan said, adding that the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly, with Israel stronger and Iran weaker.

Ongoing negotiations

Hamas and Israel are seriously discussing a possible ceasefire agreement, a diplomatic source told CNN. Both sides are negotiating in good faith, with Hamas negotiators returning to Doha, the Qatari capital. Sources quoted by the Jerusalem Post revealed that Mossad chief David Barnea met with Qatari premier Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to discuss the understanding.

Hamas concessions

According to the Wall Street Journal, Hamas agreed to two of Israel’s main demands. The militant group told the mediators that it would accept an agreement that would allow Israeli forces to remain in Gaza temporarily once the fighting stops. Hamas also handed over a list of hostages, including US citizens, which it would release under a ceasefire pact.

Details of the agreement

Negotiators indicated that Hamas would accept the temporary presence of Israeli forces in the Philadelphia corridor, a strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, and in the Netzarim corridor, which divides the enclave. In addition, Hamas agreed not to operate or have a presence on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

Optimism for an agreement

Islamic Jihad’s number two, Muhammad al-Hindi, expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement with Israel. ‘There is a willingness on the part of the Americans and Israelis that makes it possible to reach an agreement,’ he told the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian website Quds. Al-Hindi added that the negotiations covered several stages and that there was flexibility and willingness to discuss the details of each.

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