At negotiations on the aggravation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in Paris, the issue of the release of 40 hostages held in the Gaza Strip is being discussed. Al Hadath TV channel reported this on the 24th.
“In Paris, they are discussing the possibility of Hamas releasing 40 hostages in exchange for 200-300 Palestinian prisoners,” journalists report.
Israeli media also confirmed a draft agreement with the Palestinian Hamas movement on the exchange of hostages and a ceasefire. So, Ynet citing a source reports that an agreement will be reached on the names of the Palestinian hostages and prisoners to be released, as well as on the terms of the ceasefire.
The day before, on February 24, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro that the G20 countries are aimed at working to extend the humanitarian pause in Gaza, as well as the release of people taken hostage by the Palestinian Hamas movement.
Earlier, on February 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that over the five months of escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, more civilians have died than since 2014 in Ukraine. According to him, these are huge numbers for the Middle East and “there is no bright spot in sight.” Lavrov noted that there is no other way to resolve this conflict other than dialogue, and Russia wants to help the Israelis and Palestinians come to an agreement.
Prior to this, on January 24, it was reported that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the exchange of prisoners and prisoners, which was developed by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. However, Hamas refused to fulfill its part of the agreement until the terms of a permanent ceasefire in the future were agreed upon. The next day, American media reported that the deal included, in addition to the release of the hostages, a six-week truce to facilitate their safety.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel intends to continue the operation in the Gaza Strip until Hamas is completely defeated; the fighting will continue for many months. Israeli President Isaac Herzog then indicated that Hamas must be eradicated in order to “ensure a better future for the Palestinians.”
The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, when Hamas subjected Israel to massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, and also invaded border areas in the south of the country and took hostages. That same day, Israel began retaliating against targets in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinians are seeking to return the borders between the two countries to the lines that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War. Palestine wants to create its own state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and make East Jerusalem its capital. Israel refuses such conditions.
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