In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the group controlling the Gaza Strip, Hamas, has announced that they will not release any more hostages until Israel agrees to a complete cessation of aggression. This decision comes after Israel claimed to have killed over 2,000 Hamas fighters since a truce earlier this month, where more than 100 hostages were freed. However, it is believed that around 120 people abducted from Israel on October 7th are still being held captive in Gaza. As negotiations continue at the United Nations to pass a resolution on the war, the US has expressed serious concerns over the draft UN Security Council resolution, leading to a postponement of voting until Friday.
During the week-long truce, there was an increased flow of aid into Gaza, but the United Nations has warned that the population is at risk of famine if the war continues. Despite talks in Cairo, Egypt, no agreement has been reached on a new truce. In a statement, Hamas emphasized that “There is a Palestinian national decision that there should be no talk about prisoners or exchange deals except after a full cessation of aggression,” referring to the Israeli government’s approach of using military pressure and rescue operations to secure the release of hostages. However, this strategy has not been successful, with only one hostage, Ori Megidish, being rescued so far. The Israeli government faces pressure from the relatives of the remaining hostages, who argue that the forceful approach is ineffective.
Hamas’ demand for a complete cessation of aggression puts the Israeli government in a difficult position. The government believes that it should continue military operations and degrade Hamas’ capabilities before ending the war. However, this reluctance to stop fighting disappoints the people of Gaza, who desperately desire an end to the conflict. The Israeli government reports killing 2,000 Hamas members in Gaza this month, but the Hamas-run health ministry claims that the overall death toll since October 7th is over 20,000, including 8,000 children and 6,200 women.
The situation in Gaza is further complicated by other Palestinian factions, such as Islamic Jihad, also holding Israeli hostages. With Hamas demanding a halt to the war without offering any guarantees of stopping their armed actions, the Israeli government faces a challenging decision. They are torn between ending the conflict to satisfy the people of Gaza and ensuring the complete degradation of Hamas’ capabilities. The ongoing negotiations and discussions at the United Nations will play a significant role in shaping the outcome of this conflict, but for now, the hostages remain in captivity, and the war continues.
Hamas Demands Full Cessation of Aggression Before More Hostage Releases
