An agreement between Hamas and Israel on the release of the hostages still in the hands of terrorists seems possible, even if the group has not yet received an official response to Tel Aviv’s proposal.
This is what emerges from frenetic hours of negotiations in Cairo between Hamas and Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries, in view of a possible arrival in Egypt, in the event of an agreement, of the Israeli counterpart.
“Senior Israeli officials said there are early indications that Hamas will agree to carry out the first phase of the deal – the humanitarian release of the hostages – without an official commitment from Israel to end the war,” he reported the usually very knowledgeable Barak Ravid of Axios on twitter.
Shortly afterwards came the comment from War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz according to which Hamas had still not given any response to the Egyptian mediators’ proposal. «I suggest – he said, quoted by the media – that “political authorities” and all those who make decisions wait for official updates, that they stay calm and do not fall into hysteria». Gantz then confirmed that if Hamas were to accept the agreement, the War Cabinet – expected tomorrow – will discuss the matter.
Which explains the fact that an Israeli delegation will go to Cairo only “if there is a response from Hamas that has a horizon for negotiations”, as Israeli sources said, adding that “the delegation is already ready to leave and has received the mandate for the agreement”. In Israel, the media added, it is hoped that the response from the Islamic faction will arrive tonight or tomorrow morning.
A demonstration by the families of the Israeli hostages in Gaza is scheduled for this evening in Tel Aviv to ask the government to reach an agreement for their release. The families themselves announced it by comparing the difficult situation of the kidnapped with that of the survivors of the Shoah which will be celebrated throughout Israel from tonight until tomorrow evening. The banner chosen for the protest reads “Never again is the time”. «In the aftermath of October 7 – the organizers added – the phrase “Never again” took on an additional, relevant and urgent meaning».
