CAIRO (AP) — The Hamas militant group on Thursday dismissed President Donald Trump’s latest threat and reiterated that it’s going to solely free the remaining Israeli hostages in alternate for an enduring ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas accused Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to back out of the ceasefire agreement they reached in January. The settlement requires negotiations over a second section through which the hostages could be launched in alternate for extra Palestinian prisoners, a everlasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua mentioned the “greatest path to free the remaining Israeli hostages” is thru negotiations on that section, which have been supposed to start in early February. Solely restricted preparatory talks have been held to this point.
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On Wednesday, Trump issued what he mentioned was a “last warning” to Hamas after assembly with eight former hostages. The White Home in the meantime confirmed it had held unprecedented direct talks with the militant group, which Israel and Western nations view as a terrorist group.
“Launch all the Hostages now, not later, and instantly return all the useless our bodies of the folks you murdered, or it’s OVER for you,” Trump wrote on his Fact Social platform. “Solely sick and twisted folks hold our bodies, and you’re sick and twisted!”
Each Israel and Hamas have a longstanding practice of holding onto the stays of their adversaries with a purpose to commerce them in hostage-prisoner offers.
Hamas is believed to nonetheless have 24 dwelling hostages taken within the Oct. 7, 2023, assault that triggered the conflict, together with Israeli-American Edan Alexander. It is usually holding the our bodies of 34 others who have been both killed within the preliminary assault or in captivity, in addition to the stays of a soldier killed within the 2014 conflict.
Hamas launched 25 Israeli hostages and the our bodies of eight extra in alternate for practically 2,000 Palestinian prisoners within the first, 42-day section of the ceasefire, which ended on Saturday.
Israel helps what it says is a brand new U.S. plan for the second section through which Hamas would launch half the remaining hostages instantly and the remaining when a everlasting ceasefire is negotiated. Hamas has rejected the proposal and says it’s sticking with the settlement signed in January.
Israel has cut off the delivery of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians in an try and strain Hamas into accepting the brand new association. It has threatened “extra penalties” if Hamas doesn’t resume the discharge of hostages.
It is unclear if the U.S.-Hamas talks made any progress. The Trump administration has pledged full assist for Israel’s fundamental conflict targets of returning all of the hostages and eradicating Hamas, which can be incompatible.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 folks, largely civilians, within the Oct. 7 assault and took a complete of 251 folks hostage. Most have been launched in ceasefire agreements or different preparations. Israeli forces have rescued eight dwelling hostages and recovered the our bodies of dozens extra.
Israel’s army offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, largely ladies and youngsters, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say how lots of the useless have been militants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, with out offering proof.
The offensive destroyed huge areas in Gaza and displaced most of its inhabitants. A whole bunch of 1000’s of persons are dwelling in tents, schools-turned-shelters or war-damaged buildings, and the inhabitants depends on worldwide help.
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Comply with AP’s conflict protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
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