The Israeli Prime Minister says that negotiations with Hamas will continue “under fire”, with just a break for the planned liberation of Edan Alexander.
Israel has not accepted no ceasefire or exchange of prisoners with Hamas before the planned liberation of the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, but continues to prepare to intensify his military operations in Gaza, his Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement published on Monday that cease-fire negotiations “would continue under fire, during combat preparations.” The Israeli chief insisted that military pressure had forced Hamas to release.
“Israel did not engage in a ceasefire of any kind of” or the release of Palestinian prisoners, but did not agree to allow a safe passage for the liberation of Alexander, the last American captive detained in Gaza, according to the press release.
A source from Hamas told the AFP news agency later on Monday that the mediators had informed the Palestinian group that Israel is unanswered for military operations in Gaza for the transfer.
“Final Deal?
Hamas said on Monday that Alexander’s release was imminent. The armed group has agreed to release him as a goodwill gesture by US President Donald Trump, who should arrive in the Middle East later.
The day before, the Palestinian group had revealed that it had accepted the release in talks with the United States. Qatar Arab mediators and Egypt described it as not encouragement towards a return to the ceasefire for the talks for Gaza torn by the war.
Khalil al-Hayyah, a head of Hamas in Gaza, said that the group was ready to “start immediately intensive negotiations” to conclude a final agreement for a long-term truce, including the end of the war, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and the remaining Israeli captives in Gaza, and the recourse to power in an independent body of technocrats.
Alexander’s family said they hoped for the decision to open the way to the release of the other 59 captives, only 21 of which would be alive.
The families of the captives and their supporters in Israel have pressed the government to conclude an agreement to obtain the release of those who are always held in Gaza, but Netanyahu faced a strong pressure from the retraction in his cabinet so as not to end the war.
Last week, Netanyahu announced that Israel provides for a total conquest of Gaza in an intensive military operation. Israeli officials said Pas-UP in military action would not start before Trump ended his visit to the Middle East.
Israel continues to bomb the enclave.
The Gaza Civil Defense Agency reported on Monday that several people had been killed and many others injured in an air attack at night against displaced school housing.
“At least 10 (dead), including several women and children, as well as dozens of injured, were transported following an Israeli air strike on the School of Fatima Bint Asad, which houses more than 2,000 people displaced in the city of Jabalia,” said the spokesman for Civil Defense Mahmoud Basal.
Israeli forces also continued the attacks through the Gaza Strip, notably Gaza City to the north, Rafah to the south and the Nuseirat refugee camp in the center.