Israeli authorities anticipate that the Palestinian movement Hamas will release a large number of hostages as part of a Qatar-mediated agreement. This expectation was reported by the Israeli news portal Yedioth Ahronoth.
High-ranking Israeli officials believe that "a Qatar-mediated agreement to release a significant number of hostages in Gaza, with a priority on women, children, and the elderly, is imminent," as stated in the portal's report. However, they stressed that "the negotiation of this agreement does not negate the subsequent ground operation that will follow," the report further indicated. These officials also noted that the time frame for reaching an agreement was rapidly narrowing, and Israel's patience was "approaching its limits."
Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog stated the previous day that 30 children were being held hostage by the Palestinian Hamas movement. Concurrently, Hamas deputy politburo chief Saleh al-Arouri indicated in comments to the Lebanese TV channel Al Manar that Israelis are to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners who are in Israeli jails, while "foreign nationals are guests."
According to the latest reports, Hamas supporters are holding at least 220 hostages in Gaza. The Russian embassy in Israel confirmed the presence of at least 2 Russian citizens among them who also have Israeli citizenship. On Monday, the Israeli authorities confirmed the release of 2 hostages – they were Israeli women who were kidnapped on October 7 from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the border with the Gaza Strip.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Gustav Brandt/Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS