Global | 2023.12.21 02:05
[뉴욕=뉴스핌]Correspondent Kim Geun-cheol = While Israel is pursuing ceasefire negotiations for the release of hostages kidnapped in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, it was confirmed that Hamas’ top leader Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Cairo, Egypt on the 20th (local time).
Hamas announced that Haniyeh, who arrived in Cairo on this day, would meet with Egyptian officials to discuss the issue of the war in the Gaza Strip.
Foreign media outlets, citing Hamas sources, reported that Haniyeh would discuss with the Egyptian government the release of Israeli hostages and a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
Egypt, along with Qatar, has played a key mediating role in ceasefire negotiations.
Hamas supreme leader Ismail Haniyeh. [사진=로이터 뉴스핌]
The New York Times (NYT) quoted a source as saying that Israel and Hamas are attempting to discuss a new ceasefire plan for the release of hostages through the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, and that several proposals have been proposed.
Axios, an American online media outlet, previously reported that Israel offered Hamas a ceasefire of at least one week in exchange for the release of about 40 hostages.
According to reports, David Varnia, director of Israel’s foreign intelligence agency Mossad, met with U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Muhammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Warsaw, Poland, on the 18th to discuss such a plan.
Israeli authorities believe that there are about 130 hostages being held by Hamas, including eight U.S. citizens.
Previously, in a seven-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Hamas released 105 hostages and Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners detained in the country.
Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas showed strong pressure on the other ahead of the hostage release and ceasefire negotiations.
“We will not stop fighting until we achieve the goals we have set, including the elimination of Hamas, the release of hostages, and an end to the threat from Gaza,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement. “Hamas terrorists have two choices: surrender or death.” “There is only a choice,” he argued.
On the other hand, foreign media reported that Basse Naim, a senior Hamas official, argued that in order to discuss releasing additional hostages, Israel must first stop fighting and allow unlimited aid to the Gaza Strip. He added that, as things stand, “negotiations are not taking place” with Israel.
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2023-12-20 16:35:00
