Hamas provides the prospect of hostages – Diepresse.com

Hamas has given the prospect of the release of ten living hostages in a message. Furthermore, the corpses of 18 hostages should be handed over when Israel in return expires a number of Palestinian prisoners, the Palestinian terrorist organization said on Saturday. The Hamas, which is ruling in the Gaza Strip Steve Witkoff approved in a central point. However, it demands changes to the proposal.

A representative of Hamas left open what changes these are on Saturday. The organization had previously stated that it had sent an answer to the US proposal.

The Witkoff plan stipulates that ten hostages and the remains of 18 other Hamas victims are handed over to Israel during a 60-day ceasefire. Israel assumes that 20 to 23 living hostages and at least 35 corpses of abducted people are currently in the violence of Hamas. According to the Witkoff plan, the two sides should negotiate the release of the war during the 60-day ceasefire about the release of the remaining hostages. There is no guarantee of the final cessation of the fighting – this has been a central demand for Hamas so far.

Hamas demands permanent peace

In the Hamas Declaration it was now said: « This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive retreat from the Gaza Strip and ensure the access of relief goods for our people and our families in the Gaza Strip. »

US President Donald Trump had shown confidently on Friday that there could soon be a ceasefire in the Gaza War. According to the White House, Israel had previously accepted a US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza War.

Israeli media had reported at the beginning of the week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had informed the families of the hostages recorded in the Gaza Strip that Witkoff had accepted Israel. Netanyahus office did not officially want to comment at the time. On Saturday, too, the office did not react to the request for a statement.

Clepch between Hamas and Israel

The deep gap between Hamas and Israel has caused earlier attempts to restore a ceasefire. Israel insisted that Hamas is completely disarmed, as a military and governing force is dissolved and returns all 58 Gaza Geiseln before it agrees to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to make its weapons, and explains that Israel must remove its troops from the Gaza Strip and undertake to end the war.

In response to an attack by Hamas to the south of Israel on October 7, 2023, in which, according to Israeli information, around 1,200 people were killed and 251 Israelis were delayed as hostages in the Gaza strips, an extensive offensive in the Gaza Strip began. According to Palestinian information, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 100,000 injured. There are also large parts of the coastal strip in ruins. In addition, the humanitarian situation in the area once inhabited by around 2.3 million people is catastrophic.

77 trucks stormed with relief goods in Gaza

Meanwhile, a large number of hungry people in the Gaza Strip have stopped 77 trucks with relief goods from the UN World Food Program (WFP) on the way to the distribution centers on the way to the distribution centers. This was announced by the organization based in Rome on the X platform. After an almost 80-day blockade of the sealed coastal strip by Israel, the residents would « no longer just watch food pass them », the statement said.

In order to restore trust in the auxiliary deliveries and their proper distribution, the Gaza Strip must now be « flooded with food », according to the WFP. The organization is able to do this. « We have enough food (in stock) to supply all 2.2 million residents (of the Gaza strip) for two months, » the article continued on X. To do this, however, it would require safe traffic routes in the Gaza Strip, faster approval process on the Israeli side and ultimately a ceasefire in the Gaza war, which has been lasting for almost 20 months.

UN organization warns of famine

The United Nations had previously warned of famine in the Gaza Strip. « Gaza is the most hungry area in the world, » said Jens Laerke’s spokesman for the UN Nothilfebüro in Geneva. It is the only clearly defined area of ​​the earth in which all residents are threatened by a famine without exception. The UN has tens of thousands of pallets with food in front of the limits of the Gaza Strip, but should not distribute them. « The occupying power deliberately blocks help for the Gaza Strip, » he said.

Since March, Israel’s government had blocked all aid deliveries into the sealed coastal area. According to her, the pressure on Hamas should be increased so that the last hostages kidnapped during the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. The blockade was relaxed ten days ago, but only something. It is « like a drop in a region with a catastrophic hunger, » said Laerke. He spoke of an organizational « forced jacket ».

At the beginning of the week, the Gaza Foundation for Humanitarian Aid (GHF) set up a few distribution centers in the south of the area, which claims to have distributed 3.8 million meals. Observers spoke of partially chaotic scenes in the area of ​​these centers. The UN organizations doubt that the new foundation is able to adequately provide the population of the Gaza Strip. (APA/dpa/Reuters/AFP)