The tug-of-war between the United States, Israel, and Hamas over the release of the hostages over the release of the hostages began in earnest on the 20th (local time) as two American-Israeli hostages detained by the Palestinian armed group Hamas were released for the first time since the outbreak of war. Despite the United States’ persuasion, Israel expressed its willingness to deploy ground troops, sending a strong message to the northern residents of the Gaza Strip, saying, “If they do not evacuate, they will be considered terrorists.” Meanwhile, there is an analysis that Hamas may use the 200 multinational hostages as a ‘negotiating card’ to delay Israel’s deployment of ground troops.
This is the first time that Hamas has released a hostage since the Israeli surprise attack on the 7th. As of the 22nd, the Israeli military announced that there were 212 hostages confirmed to be held by Hamas. Among them, it is reported that around 10 are American.
There is an analysis that Hamas is trying to block Israel’s deployment of ground troops through the United States using hostages. The United States is known to have sent U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken to Qatar, where high-ranking Hamas officials have been active since the beginning of the war, to exchange conditions for the release of hostages with Hamas.
The New York Times quoted a Middle Eastern official as saying, “Hamas has agreed in principle to release all civilian hostages if Israel stops attacking the Gaza Strip,” adding, “Instead, negotiations for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons will be concluded.” “We will not release Israeli military prisoners until then,” the report said. The NYT reported that these conditions for the release of the hostages were also conveyed to Israel, but Israel did not agree to any proposals, including the suspension of air strikes.
It is known that the United States is pressuring Israel to rescue hostages, minimize damage to civilians in the Gaza Strip, and deliver relief goods as a condition of providing weapons support to Israel. Citing sources, Bloomberg News reported on the 20th, “There are signs that Hamas will agree to the release of some hostages, and Israel has agreed to postpone ground operations under pressure from the United States.”
As a prelude to launching a ground war, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is increasing the level of its offensive by strengthening airstrikes against the Gaza Strip and sending strong evacuation warnings.
The Israeli military has been distributing leaflets with the IDF logo in the Gaza Strip since the 21st, conveying the message, “Anyone who chooses not to leave from the north to the south will have their lives in danger, and anyone can be considered an accomplice of a terrorist group,” Reuters reported. reported. It is known that this was also delivered as a mobile phone voice message to people throughout the Gaza Strip. When this message caused controversy, the Israeli military explained on the 22nd, “It was not aimed at civilians.”
On the 22nd, an airstrike was also carried out on a mosque in the West Bank of the Jordan River in Palestine. It targeted the command center of Hamas and another armed group, Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and was the first airstrike on the West Bank by the Israeli military using fighter jets in over 20 years.
Iran and Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group supported by Iran, oppose Israel’s cessation of air strikes and deployment of ground troops and are warning of the possibility of an escalation of war. Iran’s Information Minister Esmail Hatib said on the 21st, “The Israeli regime that seeks to attack the people of Gaza and other governments and countries that support it will pay a heavy price,” Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported. Hezbollah’s second-highest ranking deputy leader, Naim Kassem, also said on the same day, “Hezbollah is already in the center of the war. “If Israel starts deploying ground troops, they will pay a high price,” he said.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.