Despite requests and numerous negotiations, Hamas has not even provided a list of those being held hostage, what condition they are in, or whether they are even alive.
Israeli diplomat Alexander Ben Zvi said the fate of the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 is still unknown because negotiations for their release are no longer ongoing.
BBC News reports this.
“We don’t know about the situation [with the hostages]. Despite all the requests, Hamas did not even provide a list of those who are in them, what condition they are in, whether they are alive. We don’t know what’s going on there, so there’s no news then negotiating without knowing what you are talking about is very difficult,” says Ben Zvi.
“As far as I know, we don’t have any negotiations now; Hamas stopped them on its own initiative,” he added.
According to the diplomat, Israel insists on the release of all hostages and does not consider it right to release them in groups.
Hamas militants previously claimed that they were ready to free the women and children in their hands. In exchange, Hamas demanded the release of prisoners, fuel and additional humanitarian aid.
The United States reported that there was some understanding between Israel and Hamas about possible options for an agreement providing for the transfer of 80 women and children abducted in Israel in exchange for Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli prisons. But soon after, Palestinian officials announced the end of negotiations following an Israeli military attack on Al-Shifa Hospital.
Let us recall that the Israeli army is conducting a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specific area around the Al-Shifa hospital.
As the head of the defense department noted, the IDF discovered “important finds” at the Al-Shifa hospital. But he didn’t specify what exactly he was talking about.
“The operation continues and is carried out clearly, selectively, but very decisively,” Galant said.
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