The fate of the approximately 240 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is increasingly in the balance. According to what a Palestinian official announced, the Islamic faction has suspended negotiations with Israel mediated by Qatar on the release of the abductees.

The reason is the battle raging around the Shifa hospital in the center of Gaza City, caught in the grip of the Israeli army chasing the militiamen and now collapsing. In the facility, according to the toll provided by Hamas, 6 premature newborns and 9 patients in intensive care died. But the toll, declared Youssef Abu Rish, deputy minister of Health in the Strip, is destined to rise in these hours.

That the hostage negotiation exists was confirmed by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. “There are ongoing negotiations on hostages involving the Israelis, Qatar and also Egypt,” said Sullivan after NBC had relaunched rumors about a possible agreement for an exchange of prisoners: 80 Israeli women and children in exchange of as many Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu himself, before the halt of Hamas, had reported that "there could be" an agreement to free the hostages, observing that before the start of ground operations in Gaza such an agreement would have been unthinkable. "But then - added the prime minister on American television - things began to change."

The Jewish State therefore does not exclude negotiations but remains convinced - as Netanyahu stated - that the only path is military pressure on Hamas and the other Palestinian factions in the Strip. The crux for the negotiations is now precisely the Shifa hospital, under whose structure Israel believes - based on testimonies and intelligence indications - the central command of Hamas is hidden, including the great leader of the faction Yahya Sinwar.

(Unioneonline/ss)

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