to report «iusnews»; Hamas has suspended talks on the release of hostages it took during the October 7 attack on Israel, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing an unnamed Palestinian official.
According to the official, this decision followed Israel’s attack on Al-Shifa Hospital in the North of the Gaza Strip. No further details were given.
Meanwhile, Osama Hamdan, a Hamas senior official, said on Sunday unimpeded access of humanitarian aide to the Gaza Strip is one of the conditions for the release of hostages who were taken during the attack on Israel.
"The release of hostages is a humanitarian matter but it should be settled by both sides, i.e. humanitarian aid should unimpededly reach Gaza," he was quoted as saying on the movement’s Telegram channel.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday suggested that there could be a potential agreement with Hamas for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
"I think the less I say about it, the more I’ll increase the chances that it materializes," Netanyahu told American network NBC News.
In response to a question about whether he knows where all the hostages are currently being held, Netanyahu said, "We know a great deal, but I won’t go beyond that".
The Israeli prime minister added that any agreement would be "the result of pressure, military pressure".
"That’s the one thing that might create a deal and if a deal is available. Well, we will talk about it when it’s there. We’ll announce it if it’s achievable," he added.
On November 1o, the Al Hadath television channel reported that an agreement had been reached to exchange Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli prisons for 100 women and children held hostage by the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.
NBC News said earlier on Sunday, citing a US administration official, that Hamas and Israel were discussing possible release of 80 hostages if Israel releases Palestinian women and teenagers held in its prisons. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that the United States is taking part in the talks between Israel and Qatar on the hostage release but gave no details.
Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when fighters from the Palestinian group Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its operation as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and carried out air strikes on the Palestinian enclave, as well as some areas of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also underway in the West Bank.
