After the Israeli army mistakenly killed three hostages, Israel seems to be intent on restarting negotiations on the release of the hostages. According to Reuters, on December 16, local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed at a press conference that Israel is working hard to rescue the detainees, and he has issued instructions to the negotiation team. But Netanyahu sidestepped specific questions about the talks, insisting on greater "military pressure" on Hamas.
For its part, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) reiterated its position in a statement: "No negotiations for the exchange of detainees will be initiated unless the aggression against our people is completely stopped." The statement also stressed that Hamas has conveyed this position to all mediators.
Data map: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Source: Surging Images.
The report quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying that David Barneya, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, held talks with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed in Europe on the evening of the 15th to consult on seeking to restart negotiations on the release of detainees. This is the first high-level meeting between Qatar and Israel since the resumption of fighting between the two sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on December 1.
Netanyahu avoided questions about the talks at a press conference on the 16th, but he confirmed that instructions had been given to the negotiating team to try to free the detainees. He also claimed that Israel's military operation in Gaza prompted the release of about 110 hostages by Hamas last month, and that Israeli forces would continue to exert "strong military pressure" on Hamas.
My instructions to the negotiating team are based on this pressure, and without military pressure, we will not get anything. Netanyahu said, "Hamas has a variety of demands, including an end to the war and the removal of Israeli ......."If we give in, Hamas wins. We need to eliminate Hamas and rescue all hostages. ”
In addition, Netanyahu claimed that Israel's goal is to "demilitarize" the Gaza Strip, adding: "I said that the IDF would be responsible for the security of the Gaza Strip because there is no other way to ensure the fight against 'terrorism.'" I can tell you that there will be a ** in Gaza that will not educate children to destroy Israel. ”
According to the Times of Israel, at the same time as Netanyahu's speech, hundreds of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv, demanding that Israel** take steps to rescue the detainees. But the demonstrators were divided into two opposing factions, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the other threatening a "war without compromise" against Hamas.
On December 16, local time, ** demonstrations took place in Tel Aviv, Israel Source: Visual China.
On the issue of negotiations on the release of detainees, Hamas issued a statement on the 16th, saying: "We reiterate our position that we will not start any negotiations on the exchange of detainees unless the aggression against our people is completely stopped." The statement added that Hamas had communicated this position to all mediators.
On December 15, local time, the Israel Defense Forces issued a notice saying that the Israeli army mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages held by Hamas while fighting in Gaza. The Israeli side initially explained that Israeli forces had spotted three "fiercely dressed" men walking towards them, considered them a threat, and immediately shot them.
However, an Israeli military source disclosed more details on the 16th, saying that the three Israeli hostages had been held up with white flags and even shouted to the Israeli army, but they were still mercilessly shot.
The US "Wall Street**" pointed out that the accidental hostage incident has increased the pressure on Netanyahu to push for hostage negotiations, and the Israeli army has also reissued the rules of engagement to the troops and begun to investigate the incident. Two Egyptian security sources told Reuters that Israel is now also more willing to push for a ceasefire, seeking to exchange Palestinian prisoners for those held by Hamas.
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