Two elderly Israeli women were freed on Monday in response to mediation by Qatar and Egypt
A protest for the return of hostages on a main street in Tel Aviv on Saturday, October 21st. Photograph: Amit Elkayam/The New York Timeswere intensifying on Monday as reports from the region suggest a significant number – perhaps up to 50 – may be freed imminently.
in an attempt to exert more pressure on Hamas, experts warn that negotiations are likely to be the only way to obtain their freedom. Two elderly Israeli women were freed late on Monday, after an Israeli American mother and daughter were released on Friday – in both cases after mediation by Qatari officials – but 220 are thought to remain held in Gaza. All were taken captive during the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel in which 1,400 people, mainly civilians, were killed. Hamas said it had released Yokheved Lifshitz and Nurit Yitzhak, who also goes by the name Nurit Cooper, for humanitarian reasons, in response to mediation by Qatar and Egypt.‘I have a feeling this is going to last’: Israelis evacuate the border with Lebanon Gaza stories: ‘I have lost my house, I have lost everything. We are hearing heavy shelling everywhere’ Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has demanded the unconditional release of all hostages held in Gaza as Israel continues the bombardment that has so far killed more than 5,000 people, according to local health authorities in the Hamas-controlled territory. Military experts have told the Guardian there is almost no chance that a military effort to rescue the hostages would succeed. The ruined urban environment in Gaza, the presence of large numbers of civilians, a lack of clear intelligence and the scattered locations in which hostages are thought to be held would make the risk to them and rescuers unacceptable, they said. “There is no experience of rescuing hostages from Gaza in the past. In any circumstances, a kinetic tactical solution is very sensitive and the last thing we want to do if we want to maximise the chances that the hostages will stay alive,” said Timor Israeli, an Israeli special forces veteran who now teaches hostage rescue techniques in the US. Analysts say the Israeli government is caught between its pledge to “crush” Hamas and its promise to bring back families alive. “The Israelis want their people back but also want to deal a crippling blow to Hamas from which it will never recover. These two objectives are probably in conflict. If they want back, they will have to negotiate,” said Dr HA Hellyer, of Washington DC’s Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and London’s Royal United Services Institute. Israeli officials have said they have cut off supplies of food and fuel to Gaza to force Hamas, which has ruled the territory since 2007, to make concessions and free hostages. A trickle of humanitarian aid has now been allowed to reach Gaza but is only a fraction of what the territory’s more than 2 million people need, aid agencies say. Experts said the tactic of piling pressure on hostage-takers was risky and could make the task of intermediaries harder. Hamas has made a series of demands for the hostages. Officials of the organisation have said the captives could be exchanged for some or even all of the thousands of Palestinians in prisons in Israel. Hamas has also called for fuel and other supplies to be reconnected to Gaza, the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and a suspension of Israeli air strikes and shelling in return for the release of some or all of the hostages. Many of the hostages were citizens or dual nationals of countries around the world, including Israel’s closest allies. At least some of the 10 US citizens still unaccounted for after the 7 October attack are believed to being held in Gaza. There are also 17 Thais among the hostages, and eight Germans. Seven British nationals and seven French citizens are still classified as missing, and some of them are believed to be hostages too. – GuardianTributes paid to Irish woman Denise Morgan fatally shot in New YorkThe Gone: Is RTÉ taking licence-fee payers for fools by passing this off as Irish drama?Jean Kleyn’s strange yet fulfilling rugby journey takes him to a World Cup final The Irish Times view on the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use: a valuable contribution to a necessary debate Families remember ‘kind’, ‘fun’ and ‘caring’ Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt who were murdered by Yousef Palani
Please follow us on Google to support us Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel-Hamas war: more Gaza strikes planned while US to add air defences to Middle EastAt least 11 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike in southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, and Israel striking city of Rafah
Read more »
IT Sunday: Disastrous flooding shows Ireland’s weather warning system needs an overhaulResponse to Israel-Hamas war creates several controversies while Rugby World Cup approaches climax without Ireland
Read more »
At least 50 dead in Gaza following Israeli air strikesThe Israeli army said it has killed two Hamas fighters and attacked “dozens” of the armed group’s targets overnight
Read more »
Netanyahu refuses to shoulder the blameVeteran prime minister has conspicuously avoided apologising for the miscalculations that led to Hamas attack
Read more »
How to leave the house with two kids under two: A 50-step guideGone are the days when you breeze out of your apartment with nothing but your Kate Spade clutch and the wind in your hair.
Read more »