Hamas ready to trade peace for hostages if Israel stops bombing Gaza
Qatar has been actively engaging in dialogue with Hamas, attempting to negotiate the release of approximately 200 Israeli and foreign hostages currently held in Gaza.
The Palestinian group Hamas has indicated its readiness to release all captive women and children. This move is contingent on Israel bringing an immediate end to its airstrikes on Gaza, as per a senior Hamas official, NBC News reports.
Release of Hostages – The Current Scenario
Upon Israel complying with these terms, hostages – comprised of both Israeli and foreign nationals – could be released within an hour, the official conveyed. However, due to the ongoing tension and turmoil in the region, uncertainty over a safe location for the release of these hostages prevails.
“The former US official stated that some of the hostages are being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another group based in Gaza, the officials said, while others are held by ‘random Gaza citizen opportunists,’
A point to be noted is that not all hostages reportedly taken in the attack on Israel 10 days ago are in Hamas’s custody. This attack, which saw more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, being shot, stabbed, or burned, also resulted in scores of individual abductions. Videos of these incidents have since surfaced online.
Talks, Conditions, and Conflicts
According to knowledgeable diplomats and former US officials, discussions regarding the fate of the hostages were initiated right from “day one”. Earlier, Hamas had been insistent on a prisoner exchange; however, these demands have since changed. They now seek a ceasefire from Israel and agree to the release of civilians without the exchange of prisoners.
“The diplomat added that Hamas ‘appears to have understood that civilians will have to be released without a trade’.”
This shift in stance comes against a grim backdrop of a recent hospital explosion in Gaza, which reportedly killed around 500 people. The local authorities are attributing this catastrophe to Israeli airstrikes, while Israel alleges it to be from misfiring Hamas rockets.
The Role of Diplomacy – Enter Qatar
Moving away from the immediate conflict, the international diplomatic arena also plays a significant role in this scenario. Qatar has been actively engaging in dialogue with Hamas, attempting to negotiate the release of approximately 200 Israeli and foreign hostages currently held in Gaza. Amongst all these developments, the US has been leaning heavily on its ally Qatar, relying on the country’s established relations with the militant group.
“The Qataris are the indispensable diplomatic tool on hostage issues at the moment,” said Ayham Kamel, head of Middle East and North Africa at political risk consultant Eurasia Group.
In the context of this ongoing sensitive hostage diplomacy, Qatar has also been acting as a geopolitical fixer. Just last month, it managed to successfully mediate the release of five American prisoners. It also leveraged its diplomatic skills in the aftermath of Russia invading Ukraine, helping ease fears over gas supply.
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