According to analysts the invasion of Rafah by the Israeli army would be imminent consequently these could be the last days, if not the last hours, to find a truce in Gaza. This was written by Adnkronos, quoting the Channel 12 broadcaster which in turn refers to an Israeli source, who would have clearly transmitted a message from Israel via the Egyptian interlocutors to Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, on the occasion of the talks for the negotiations which were sent by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to a delegation of Egyptian mediators visiting the country, an event also reported by the Times of Israel. S
According to the source, Israel would not be willing to let Sinwar continue the negotiations for long, and it would also be the alternative between “an agreement in the near future, and Rafah”. Israel would be willing to accept the release of a number of hostages that is less than 40, as previously proposed, but higher than 20, as Hamas has made known in recent contacts. According to Tel Aviv reports, Hamas is still with them 33 people who are among the so-called humanitarian hostagesthat is, women, children, sick people and men over the age of 50, and is pushing for everyone to be freed.
ISRAEL WAR, TRUCE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RELEASE OF AT LEAST 33 HOSTAGES: WHAT HAS EMERGED FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH EGYPT
The source, in any case, does not say whether this would be a first phase in view a broader agreement which would concern all the hostages, much less how long the truce could last. It also states that the Israeli army is ready for an operation in Rafah, having completed preparations, and that “time is running out” for the hostages, that they must be the “absolute priority”.
The IDF also makes it known that can resume fighting at any time if a break is needed to agree a deal. Netanyahu is pushing as hard as he can to get the approval for the hostages but fears the far-right opposition would be against it.
TRUCE ISRAEL HAMAS, THE PALESTINIANS’ REPLY: “WE RECEIVED THE PROPOSAL”
And on Israel’s proposal for a truce, the response from Hamas has arrived in recent hours, declaring that it has received Tel Aviv’s request and that it is ready to respond with a counter-proposal regarding the ceasefire along the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages.
Through a brief statement the deputy head of Hamas’s political wing in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, announced: “Today the Hamas movement received the official response to its ceasefire proposal, delivered to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13. The movement will study this proposal and, subsequently, present its response”, words reported by the website of the Italian news agency Ansa. Speaking to the media, Israeli sources defined the talks with the Egyptian delegation in charge of finding an agreement as “very good” and that they led to “progress”.
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