L’Egypt continues its efforts to prevent an Israeli attack on Rafah. According to what was reported by Jerusalem Postthe negotiators in Cairo have put on the negotiating table a proposal for the release of 33 hostages detained in Gaza, the only ones who, according to theintelligence of Tel Aviv, 133 still in the hands of Hamas remained alive. In exchange, the terrorists would get a reprieve of “less than six weeks“.
“There aren’t any at the moment interviews on the hostages between Israel and Hamas, nor is there a new Israeli offer in this regard”, explained an informed source from the Jewish State. “What there is is an attempt by Egypt to restart talks with an Egyptian proposal that provides for the release of 33 hostages, women, elderly and sick”. This morning the rumor spread that the draft agreement had been presented by a delegation from Cairo led by the head of the secret services Abbas Kamalwho was supposed to meet the director of Mossad David Barnea. However, the Arab and Egyptian media denied the news, underlining that there were no meetings and that the mediators of al-Sisi’s government are in contact with all parties.
The fact that only 33 people survived captivity is also not easily verifiable. In early March, Hamas terrorists said that Israeli raids in the Strip had resulted in the deaths of 70 hostageswhich would bring the number of detainees still alive to 63. The Palestinian organization has also said several times that it is unable to trace back all the Israelis kidnapped in the October 7 attacks, due to the repeated movements and the serious losses suffered due to the IDF offensive, particularly as regards the chain of command. There is the possibility, therefore, that many prisoners are missing but still alive.
The news of the Egyptian proposal is, however, destined to rekindle the debate protests of the hostages’ families, who have repeatedly taken to the streets of Israel to accuse the government of abandoning their loved ones. On Friday 26 March, a demonstration was held in front of the home of the leader of the National Unity party and member of the war cabinet Benny Gantz. The crowd chanted slogans calling for the release of the people still held captive in Gaza and held up placards calling for a change in the government.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army is preparing for the offensive on Rafah, the last terrorist stronghold in the exclave where, according to the military, there are still four battalions enemies intact. The IDF have massed their tanks along the southern border of the Strip and hundreds of thousands of civilians have already abandoned the city, fleeing to Egypt or to the camps set up by the Jewish State in the Khan Younis area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet given the green light to the attack, but many believe it is now imminent.
