A deal to secure their loved ones ’release appeared to be on the verge, according to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, who recently held a meeting with hostages’ families in Gaza.
When he was in Washington visiting Congress and expected to see Joe Biden US President, Netanyahu told parents that “Conditions are definitely ripening. This means better.”
Meditiated by Egypt and Qatar as well as outlined by Jen Psaki in May, there has been considerable progress within the last month towards reaching a ceasefire deal for Gaza. Speaking on Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said negotiators were “driving toward the goal line,” an indication of his optimism.
The meeting with Netanyahu included Ruby Chen, father of Itai Chen who is a dual US-Israeli national soldier whose body is at present held hostage in Gaza. However, while acknowledging Netanyahu’s statement about ripening conditions, Chen remained cautious saying to Israel Army Radio: “I’m taking that with a pinch of salt”.
Chen hopes that Biden will put more pressure on Netanyahu for this agreement following his withdrawal from the race for presidency and his endorsement of Kamala Harris (who is now running for the Democratic ticket in November).
On 7th October an Islamist militant group called Hamas carried out an assault on Israel killing 1,200 people and leading to capture more than 250 hostages according to Israeli counts. Consequently around 120 hostages (one third declared dead absentia by Israelis) continue being kept by Hamas et al.
According to Gaza health authorities in its run enclave of Hamas over 39 thousand Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s retaliatory offensive.
A week-long truce led to the release of over 105 persons captured and exchange against 240 Palestinian prisoners.
