Families of captives urge Israel to secure deal
The families of those still held captive in Gaza have welcomed reports on Sinwar’s possible killing – which has not been confirmed yet by either the Israeli army or Hamas. Yet they have urged the government to leverage “this major achievement into an immediate deal to secure hostages’ return”.
“We call on the Israeli government, world leaders, and mediating countries to leverage the military achievement into a diplomatic one by pursuing an immediate agreement for the release of all 101 hostages: the living for rehabilitation and the murdered for proper burial,” the group said in a statement on X.
“There is and will not be a total victory without the release of all 101 abductees,” it added.
Palestinian fighters took about 250 people from Israel into Gaza on October 7, 2023, when Hamas led attacks in southern Israel, which also killed 1,139 people. Nearly half the captives have been released. Others are still in captivity with some confirmed or feared dead.
The Hamas-led assault triggered a ferocious response by Israel, which has killed more than 42,000 people in the Strip, caused a humanitarian catastrophe, and reduced large swaths of the besieged and bombarded territory to rubble.
Families and supporters of Israeli captives held in Gaza protest to demand their immediate release in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 16
US, Israel have invested ‘enormous resources’ into tracking down Sinwar
There have been enormous resources in coordination with the United States and Israel that have been invested in trying to track Yahya Sinwar down now.
Just a couple of days ago, here in Washington, when asked by reporters, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Sinwar was the reason for the stalled ceasefire talks. He said that no discussions are taking place right now regarding ceasefire efforts and that is because, in the eyes of the US, Sinwar has zero interest in discussions.
The US still sees ceasefire agreements as the best way to bring the captives home.
Already rewriting history. Netanyahu stands in the way of the ceasefire deal Biden proposed and Hamas accepted back in May.
https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/details-of-the-ceasefire-deal-that-hamas-has-accepted/
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hamas-accepts-un-ceasefire-resolution-ready-negotiate-over-details-official-says-2024-06-11/
Netanyahu started adding extra conditions and is still adamant on keeping the IDF in Gaza. He was never interested in a ceasefire, only a temporary pause.
Now is the time to push for a captive deal: Israeli opposition leader
Yair Lapid has said on X that Israel’s political leadership should push hard for a “comprehensive” deal to return captives still held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other groups.
In a statement on X, the opposition leader said Israel should ” take advantage of the opportunity” of the potential killing of Hamas leader Yahyah Sinwar. Sinwar’s killing has yet to be confirmed by the Israeli army, and Hamas has yet to comment.
Lapid said Israel should also “offer monetary rewards and safe passage to anyone who brings [captives] to our forces”. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire in Gaza, which would include the return of the captives, have been stalled for months.
Safe passage... Yeah I'm sure they're going to believe you. If Sinwar is dead, who are you going to negotiate with. The hostages are spread over different groups, you might have just signed their final death warrant.
