Israel has cast doubt on Hamas’ claim that it needed time to determine the fate of the 34 prisoners it announced it was prepared to liberate by stating that the group has not yet clarified whether the hostages are dead or alive, reports RTE.
As Israel continued to bombard the Gaza Strip, where rescuers reported 13 people had been killed, Hamas made the offer.
Israeli sources said that three individuals were murdered in an attack by gunmen in the occupied West Bank, where violence has increased since the start of the war in Gaza, reports RTE.
For months, mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement to stop the violence in Gaza, but both sides have accused one another of sabotaging the talks.
A senior Hamas official stated that the organisation was ready to free a first set of detainees but would require “a week of calm” to ascertain whether they were still alive. Indirect negotiations have begun in recent days, reports RTE.
David Mencer, a spokesman for the Israeli government, has denied the assertion.
“They are well aware of who is dead and who is living. “They are aware of the exact location of the hostages,” Mr. Mencer said reporters during an online briefing. Gaza is a pretty tiny city. Hamas is well aware of their location,” reports RTE.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had earlier indicated that Israel had not heard back from Hamas on the captives’ status and that those who were supposed to be included were on a list that was “originally given by Israel to the mediators” last year.
In addition, the Hamas official, who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss the current discussions, stated that the group was drawn from a list that Israel had provided and would comprise all of the women, children, old, and sickly prisoners still detained in Gaza.
“Hamas has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether alive or dead,” the official told AFP, but the group needed time “to communicate with the captors and identify those who are alive and those who are dead”, reports RTE.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had earlier indicated that Israel had not heard back from Hamas on the captives’ status and that those who were supposed to be included were on a list that was “originally given by Israel to the mediators” last year.
Palestinian terrorists took 251 captives during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which precipitated the war in Gaza; 96 of them are still in Gaza. According to the Israeli military, 34 of them have died, reports RTE.
There has only been one ceasefire since the conflict began, in November 2023, during which 105 captives were released, including several Israelis who were turned over in return for 240 Palestinians who were liberated from Israeli prisons.
Although it might not happen until after President Joe Biden’s departure on January 20, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism that a ceasefire agreement will be reached.
“If we don’t get it across the finish line in the next two weeks, I’m confident that it will get its completion at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later,” Mr Blinken said on a visit to Seoul, reports RTE.
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