JERUSALEM/CAIRO. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that a deal to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza could be imminent, according to his office. The announcement comes amid ongoing fierce clashes in the besieged Palestinian territory.
As fighting continues, Israeli forces have intensified their operations in Khan Younis, Gaza’s southern region, following an evacuation order for civilians from areas targeted for renewed attacks by Palestinian militants. Thousands have been displaced as Israeli airstrikes bombard the region, according to U.N. officials.
Netanyahu, currently in Washington, is scheduled to meet U.S. President Joe Biden later this week after addressing Congress. On Monday, during a meeting with hostage families in the U.S. capital, Netanyahu stated, “The conditions (for a deal) are undoubtedly ripening. This is a good sign.”
The efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which have gained traction over the past month, were initially outlined by Biden in May and are mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Netanyahu noted, “Unfortunately, it will not take place all at once; there will be stages. However, I believe that we can advance the deal and leave us in possession of the leverage to bring about the release of the others (hostages not freed in the first stage).”
Ruby Chen, father of Itai Chen, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen whose body is held in Gaza, was among those who met Netanyahu. Chen expressed cautious optimism, saying, “He did say that conditions were ripening but I’m taking that with a pinch of salt.” Chen also voiced hope that Biden would exert more pressure on Netanyahu to finalize the deal, especially following Biden’s recent withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
However, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed Netanyahu’s statements, asserting, “Netanyahu is still stalling and he is sending delegations only to calm down the anger of families of Israeli captives.”
A scheduled Israeli negotiation team will resume talks on Thursday, focusing on a possible exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. During a brief ceasefire in November, 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
The hostages were initially taken during a Hamas raid on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and about 250 captives, according to Israeli figures. Currently, around 120 hostages remain in captivity, with a third declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.
The retaliatory Israeli offensive has resulted in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials. The conflict has caused mass displacement, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee, and widespread destruction in the enclave.
In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes hit Khan Younis on Tuesday, with ongoing clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants. The U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, reported, “Thousands of people on the move again, fleeing strikes & military operations. The situation is impossible. The cycle of fear & displacement has gone on too long. Everyone is exhausted.”
The Israeli military reported killing dozens of militants in Khan Younis and destroying weapon caches and tunnels. Palestinian medics reported one death from an airstrike on Tuesday, following multiple casualties from Monday’s attacks. In Gaza City, 16 people were killed in Israeli bombings, and two Palestinians were killed in Rafah, where ongoing clashes with Israeli forces continue.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
