War in Gaza: U.S. Sondermanders demands release of the hostages!

War in Gaza: U.S. Sondermanders demands release of the hostages!

Gazastreifen, Palästina - The conflict in the Gaza Strip has accepted dramatic proportions in the past few weeks. Adam Boehler, US specialist for the hostage situation, has declared that Israel's attacks on Gaza would immediately end if Hamas releases all the remaining hostages. This appeal, which is aimed at the militant Islamist group, is intended to increase the pressure on Hamas in order to end the fights. Since the reverse of the attacks after a previous armistice in March, the number of dead in the Gaza Strip has reached a frightening height of 51,025, whereby at least 1,652 Palestinians have lost their lives alone since then. According to Boehler, the responsibility to end the conflict lies with Hamas, who could stop him at any time by exposing the hostages.

President Trump has already made it clear that "nothing is going on as long as all hostages are not released". Boehler describes a two -stage plan: first the release of all hostages, then conversations about the situation after the conflict. However, it remains unclear what this future situation would specifically include. The proposal for the relocation of the Palestinians into neighboring countries remains a versatile, controversial idea.

Hamas ’conditions for the release of hostages

Hamas has declared that she is only ready to release more hostages if a new agreement is concluded to end the fights. This agreement must include guarantees that have not yet been met, including the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. As part of a previous ceasefire, a first group of 33 hostages has already been exchanged for increased humanitarian aid and the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. In addition, the UN reports of more than 500,000 new displaced people due to the ongoing conflict.

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that a “security area” between Rafah and Khan Younis has now been completed, which indicates an intended expansion of the military operations in Gaza. It is estimated that there are still 24 living hostages in Gaza, all male soldiers, while the corpse of 35 other hostages are also suspected in the region.

progress in the negotiations for an armistice

Hamas currently offers an examination of an Israeli proposal that provides for the release of 10 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The proposal that was handed over to Hamas on Monday includes a 45-day ceasefire to negotiate a permanent peace. However, this offer also includes Gaza, a condition that Hamas rejected as unacceptable.

The negotiations are characterized by tensions because Israeli representatives are under pressure, especially from families of the hostages and military reservists. Under the proposal, Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American citizen, would be released as a gesture towards the United States on the first day of the ceasefire. At the same time, Hamas rejects every agreement that includes a return of Israeli forces to Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains dramatically tense during all of these negotiations. Over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed since mid -March, and according to the world nutrition program, acute famine threatens. More than 70,000 people were injured, and the living conditions for the 2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are catastrophic in view of the continued blockade and military actions.

In this context, the need for an immediate end of the fights becomes increasingly urgent, not only to end the humanitarian disaster, but also to stabilize the entire region. The international community is asked to offer active and constructive options for conflict coping in order to support both the Palestinians and Israelis and to end perpetuated violence.

For more information on this topic, see Al Jazera , cnn and bpb .