About 300 people took part in the March 26, 2024, protest outside the Israeli military's headquarters in Tel Aviv. Photo: REUTERS
Hamas informed negotiators on Monday that not all of the 33 hostages who would be freed in the first phase of a possible cease-fire deal with Israel are still living and that the remains of those who have died would be among the initial releases, according to two people familiar with the talks.
The disclosure came as part of Hamas’s counteroffer to Israel’s latest proposal, which envisions a first-phase, six-week cease-fire in exchange for the return of some of the hostages taken during the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. It was not clear whether Hamas revealed how many of the 33 are still alive and how many are dead.
The first group of hostages meant to be freed in the initial phase of the proposed agreement is supposed to include women, older men and the sick and wounded who are among the more than 100 believed still to be held captive. The Israelis initially wanted 40 to be released in the first phase but came to understand that Hamas did not hold that many who fit the criteria. Israeli and American officials have long assumed that some of the hostages may be dead.
The news that the first group of hostages to be released would include the remains of some taken seven months ago will surely upset families who have been pressing the Israeli government to do more to free their loved ones. The fate of the hostages has become a major issue with the Israeli public as thousands of demonstrators have poured into the streets to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to make a deal. Protesters blocked major roads in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv late Monday after Hamas’s counteroffer.
Israeli officials said that the Hamas counteroffer was not acceptable, but they have agreed to keep negotiating. Officials from various countries serving as intermediaries will gather again in Cairo this week to go over the counteroffer and see if further progress can be made. Israel has agreed to send a delegation to review the proposal and contemplate further concessions.
Source: NYT
哈馬斯提出移交包括遺骸在內的33名人質
哈馬斯週一告知談判代表，在與以色列可能達成的停火協議第一階段中獲釋的 33 名人質並非全部都還活著，死者的遺體將是首批釋放的人質之一。 。
這項披露是哈馬斯對以色列最新提議的還價的一部分，該提議設想第一階段為期六週的停火，以換取 10 月 7 日恐怖襲擊中被劫持的部分人質的歸還。 目前尚不清楚哈馬斯是否透露了這 33 人中有多少人還活著，有多少人已經死亡。
在擬議協議的初始階段，第一批被釋放的人質應該包括婦女、老年男子以及傷病員，據信仍有 100 多名人質被關押。 以色列最初希望在第一階段釋放 40 人，但後來了解到，哈馬斯並沒有關押那麼多符合標準的人。 以色列和美國官員長期以來一直認為有些人質可能已經死亡。
第一批被釋放的人質將包括七個月前被劫持的人質的遺骸，這一消息肯定會讓那些一直敦促以色列政府採取更多措施釋放親人的家庭感到不安。 人質的命運已成為以色列公眾的一個主要問題，數千名示威者湧上街頭，向總理內塔尼亞胡政府施壓，要求達成協議。 在哈馬斯提出還價後，抗議者週一晚間封鎖了耶路撒冷和特拉維夫的主要道路。
以色列官員表示，哈馬斯的還價不可接受，但他們同意繼續談判。 身為中間人的各國官員將於本週再次齊聚開羅，商討還價，看看能否取得進一步進展。 以色列已同意派代表團審查該提案並考慮進一步讓步。
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