Western diplomats began negotiations with the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu with the goal of Tel Aviv suspending hostilities in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages in the enclave by the Palestinian radical Hamas movement. This was reported by the Financial Times (FT) newspaper with reference to one of the diplomatic representatives.
According to the publication, the deal will also include "a guarantee of the physical safety of Hamas fighters who freed the hostages" as well as "the resumption of diplomatic negotiations in Cairo to end the war."
The possibility of reaching any diplomatic agreements also depends, according to the FT, on what happens to Hamas after the assassination of the head of the movement's Politburo, Yahya Sinwar. It was he who recently played a central role in making decisions in the organization regarding “both the war in Gaza and negotiations on the hostage deal.”
Analysts say the key issue in Sinwar's absence will be "the degree of fragmentation of the movement" and the ability of its leaders to ensure that radicals "holding hostages believed to be held in multiple locations will honor any deal to release them," they say. in the publication.
The possibility of reaching any diplomatic agreements also depends, according to the FT, on what happens to Hamas after the assassination of the head of the movement's Politburo, Yahya Sinwar. It was he who recently played a central role in making decisions in the organization regarding “both the war in Gaza and negotiations on the hostage deal.”
Analysts say the key issue in Sinwar's absence will be "the degree of fragmentation of the movement" and the ability of its leaders to ensure that radicals "holding hostages believed to be held in multiple locations will honor any deal to release them," they say. in the publication.
