Hamas has offered to release nine Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire in the ongoing war in Gaza. At the same time, it has been mentioned that Israel must also release Palestinian prisoners during this period.
According to the BBC, the talks began on Saturday (May 17) afternoon in Doha under the mediation of Qatar and the United States. According to a Palestinian official, 400 aid trucks will be able to enter Gaza every day under the ceasefire and the seriously ill can be sent outside Gaza for treatment.
On the other hand, Israel wants proof that the hostages who have been offered to be released are alive and detailed information.
However, the new proposal does not include the withdrawal of troops from Gaza or a complete cessation of hostilities, which was given as a precondition by Israel. Israel has not yet officially commented on the proposal.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Israel announced a new military operation in Gaza, which it has called “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.” It is being described as one of the most brutal operations in recent months.
According to local sources and rescue workers, at least 300 Palestinians have been killed in the operation that began on Thursday. Many of them died in attacks on hospitals and refugee camps.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll in the war that began in October has exceeded 53,000, with more than 3,000 deaths since March alone.
In protest against the Israeli attack, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for a permanent ceasefire. At the same time, the German Foreign Ministry said that the new operation could cause “an even greater humanitarian catastrophe” for the people of Gaza.