Hostage Negotiations Halted

Just one day after hopes were raised, Monday’s United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel War appears to have produced a result that is the opposite of that intended. It has halted the ceasefire negotiations taking place in Qatar.

Perceiving the increased international pressure on Israel as a chance of victory, Hamas have now returned to their original demands of a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced Palestinians to the north of the Strip, and a “real” exchange of “prisoners” – demands that Israel’s prime minister considers “delusional”.

As a result of this change, Israel has recalled its negotiating team from Qatar and continued with its military operations in the Gaza Strip, the northern border with Lebanon and in Judea and Samaria.

Relatives and friends of the remaining 134 Israeli hostages are clearly disappointed, although many of them understand that Israel cannot accept defeat by Hamas as the price of their return.

What was particularly disappointing about the Security Council resolution is that is still did not condemn Hamas for the 7th October attack – a clear indication that the UN is more about international power politics than unity in seeking peace.

This full news update from ILTV: