Tel Aviv, Nov 15: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has rejected the offer of the Hamas for a five days ceasefire and the release of hostages.
As the back channel negotiations between various Arab nations and Hamas are ongoing for the hostage release, it is said that Qatar is playing a major role for the release of hostages kidnapped by the Hamas on October 7. Hamas had agreed for the release of 70 hostages, including women and children, and in return want a five days ceasefire. The Hamas also wants a prisoner swap by releasing Palestinian prisoners who are in Israeli jails.
However, Israel side has rejected all offers of the Hamas. The Israel wants all the hostages to be released immediately instead of releasing them in groups.
The five days ceasefire offer by Hamas is considered by the Israeli side as a move to buy time for the group’s leadership to regroup and launch attacks against Israel. Sources in IDF told IANS that there will not be any agreement on ceasefire for five days as IDF has already advanced into Gaza.
Israel’s War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz says Israel will hunt down Hamas leaders “in Gaza and around the world”.
“There will be no sanctuary cities, no sanctuary houses. We will go wherever we need to in order to eradicate child murderers — above and below ground. In Gaza and around the world. We will reach the heads of government just as we reached the centres of government,” Gantz said in a Tel Aviv statement to the press. Turning to the Israel’s increasingly tense front with Lebanon, Gantz warns that “what we’re doing effectively in the south, can work even better in the north, if necessary”. (IANS)
