Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed lawmakers on Monday that progress has been made in negotiations for the release of hostages held in Gaza, over 14 months into the conflict.
His remarks in parliament come after Palestinian militant groups stated in a joint statement that a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza war and a prisoner exchange deal were closer than ever.
Also read | Netanyahu says Israel offering $5 million reward for each Gaza hostage freed
In recent days, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, were held in Doha, raising hopes for a long-awaited agreement.
“We are taking actions to bring them back. I wish to say cautiously that there has been some progress, and we will not stop acting until we bring them all home,” Netanyahu stated in parliament, on the same day he appeared in court for his ongoing corruption trial.
“I want to say to the families of the hostages: We are thinking of you and we will not give up on your loved ones, who are our loved ones as well.”
Hostage families have expressed doubts about the government’s negotiation efforts, with critics accusing Netanyahu of delaying truce talks to satisfy his far-right coalition partners.
On Saturday, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced that progress had been made in negotiations.
“The possibility of reaching an agreement (for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal) is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions,” the groups said following talks in Cairo.
During the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, 251 people were abducted, with 96 still held hostage in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the military.
‘Full force’
Negotiations have faced challenges since a one-week truce in November 2023, with disagreements over a lasting ceasefire and post-war governance in the territory.
Hamas’s armed wing stated that the fate of some hostages depends on Israeli military actions.
“If the occupation army advances further in some areas, it will decide the fate of some hostages,” said Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Netanyahu emphasized the need to dismantle Hamas before ending the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted Israel’s successes in dismantling Hamas’s military capacity and eliminating senior leadership, urging the return of the hostages and an end to the war.
On Monday, Israel’s military reported the deaths of three soldiers in northern Gaza, where an offensive aimed to prevent Hamas from regrouping.
Netanyahu also issued a warning to Houthi rebels in Yemen following missile attacks on Israel last week.
“I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of the Houthis because anyone who tries to harm us will face full force,” Netanyahu stated.
Israeli warplanes targeted ports and energy infrastructure in response to Houthi attacks, causing casualties on both sides.
-‘Seize this opportunity’
The United States conducted strikes in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa in response to Houthi attacks on Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu expressed his desire to establish new peace agreements with Arab nations, similar to the Abraham Accords signed in 2020.
“Moderate Arab countries see Israel as a regional power and potential ally. I plan to expand the Abraham Accords with the support of our American allies,” Netanyahu stated.
He also reiterated Israel’s stance on preventing terrorist groups from settling near the Syrian border.
“It is a fight for our existence, for the state of Israel. We must defend our borders,” he emphasized.
Published – December 24, 2024 03:20 am IST
