Ceasefire in Gaza unless Israelis in Hamas custody are released

Cairo/Jerusalem – Israel warned that if a long-lasting ceasefire has to be there in Gaza and rehabilitation work has to be started, all the Israelis abducted by Hamas should be released. Israeli leaders demanded this in two separate meetings held between Israel and Egypt. But Hamas is not willing to accept the Israeli demand. Therefore, indications are that this ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will be short-lived.

Israel Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkelon visited Egypt and met his counterpart Sameh Shoukry. This is the first time, in 13 years, that the Israeli Foreign Minister has visited Egypt. At the same time, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel visited Tel Aviv and met and held discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat. These meetings were organised to discuss the issues of continuing with the ceasefire and rehabilitation in the Gaza Strip. But Israel presented its demand during both the meetings. Hamas had abducted four Israelis in 2014. These included two injured soldiers and two civilians. Both the soldiers have died, and Israel has demanded that the dead bodies of the soldiers and the two civilians be handed over to Israel. Israel clarified that it cannot be guaranteed that the ceasefire will last long if the Israeli demand is not met. At the same time, Israeli made Egypt, mediating in the conflict, aware that the rehabilitation work in Gaza also cannot start.

Following this, the Egyptian Intelligence Chief, Abbas Kamel, met the leaders of both Hamas and Fatah in West bank and delivered this Israel message to both. Hamas, the terrorist organisation fighting with Israel for the last 11 days, dismissed the Israeli demand. Saying that it will not bow in front of Israeli blackmailing, Hamas threatened that it was prepared for a fresh conflict against Israel. In contrast, Fatah leaders appealed to Israel not to block the aid being sent to Palestinians in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel opened the Gaza borders last week, and humanitarian aid has started reaching the Gaza strip.