Deputy Chief of Mission at the Israeli Embassy, Fares Saeb said on Monday that Israel is following the Gaza peace agreement until all hostages are brought back safely. “We will keep to the agreement, until all our hostages are back, living ones rejoining their families and those who have died, being given proper burials at their homes,” he said on the sidelines of an event.
Israeli diplomat expressed hope that the initial phase of negotiations will go smoothly. Though Hamas tried to foil the agreement in the first stage by not letting Israel release the last female hostage, Israel opted to complete the deal rather than completely give up on it, he said. “What we want to see is all of our hostages returned. The second step would be to stop Gazans moving from the ‘no man’s land’ southward until Hamas abides by the agreement,” he said. “We expect the release of two female hostages — one civilian, one military — and five male civilians in several days,” Saeb said.
Qatar said Monday it will free Arbel Yehoud and two other civilians by Friday, and a Hamas official said Sunday that Hamas planned to release its hostages by the end of Ramadan. Israel offered that Palestinians would be allowed to return to northern Gaza the same day, and in response agreed to allow them to come home. Around, 90 hostages are said to be still in captivity.
Kirti Vardhan Singh, India’s Union Minister of State for External Affairs, echoed that optimism at a Holocaust Remembrance Day event. “I am happy to see progress on the issue of conflict. He said the release of hostages and ongoing peace talks hold out hope of a lasting solution.”
This continuing emphasis on diplomacy and cooperation by Israel is no indication of any other opinions it harbors and its intention remains to achieve a peaceful solution and make sure its citizens are returned home safely.
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