Detainees, Truce and Agreements *title altered at OP's request*

[stormy4319trevor]

Continuing broad discussion of the release of detainees, hostages and prisoners and the agreements around this.

@XRAYTHIS I don't think Hamas has support by any western governments unless I have missed any. And ultimately the governments make the decisions
I agree the escalation is worrying to say the least

Does anyone have an update on the Egypt plan that was mentioned on sky today?
The last update I saw was they were waiting for both Hamas and Israeli government to respond

Iran is another country that doesn't appear to care much for its people. They even have thier own women and girls beaten and killed for not covering their heads. The brave women there have tried to stand up to the brutal regime and repressive ways. They have a medieval take on how to treat their own people.

They don't. It doesn't stop Iran supplying weapons and support to the terrorist organisations in the countries surrounding Israel though.

@Parkingt111 There's this in the Guardian, not very specific though-

Hamas open to any proposals for 'complete and final' end to Gaza war, says official

A Hamas official has said the Palestinian militant group is “open to any ideas or proposals for a complete and final cessation of aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.”

Osama Hamdan, at a press conference on Thursday, said Hamas is not interested in a “partial or temporary cessation of aggression”, AP reported.

He reiterated Hamas’s position that the remaining hostages who have been held in Gaza since the 7 October attacks on Israel would only be released after a permanent ceasefire is implemented, it said.

Asked about ongoing discussions about a roadmap to end the war, including a framework proposal put forward by Egypt, Hamdan said the governance of Gaza would be a “decision of the Palestinian people alone”, and that Palestinians in Gaza would “not accept a leadership that comes on the back of a Zionist or American tank or under the protection of this tank.”

@stormy4319trevor thank you for that, do you know what they mean by that last sentence?

I am assuming the first part means they won't accept any Israeli interference in the ruling of Gaza

@stormy4319trevor after Hamas posting this today I have no faith that they would release hostages when they are implying they still have one from nine years ago?

@Parkingt111 Yes. they definitely imply they don't want the US or Israel to have control of their leadership, or governance. Saying it should be a choice for the Palestinian people suggests they are willing for Palestinian political parties to work together, or maybe elections. I don't know if they mean that, but that's what I'd interpret it as saying. Probably someone more knowledgeable will come along!

@Parkingt111 and @stormy4319trevor IDK but it sounds like a non-answer to me, avoiding the question
?waiting for Israel to give a answer first

.

This is the latest update from the Guardian which makes it sound like the new plan is last weeks plan [??] and that no matter what Osama Hamdan said yesterday Hamas is going to Egypt tomorrow. It's a bit confusing to me

Hamas delegation to visit Cairo to discuss Egypt's ceasefire proposal – report

A Hamas official has said that a delegation from the Palestinian militant group is due in Cairo on Friday to give its “observations” about an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire that would end the war in Gaza.

The Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP:

A high-level delegation from the Hamas political office will visit Cairo tomorrow to meet Egyptian officials and give the response of the Palestinian factions, including several observations, to their plan.

The official said these observations focus on “the modalities of the planned exchanges and the number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed, as well as obtaining guarantees for a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza”.

As we reported earlier, Egypt has said that it put forward a framework proposal to end the conflict in Gaza. The plan includes three stages ending with a ceasefire, according to an Egyptian official, who added that further details of the plan would be released once it had received responses.

The plan was put last week to officials of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which is also battling Israeli forces in the territory, AFP reported. Citing sources close to Hamas, it said the plan provides for renewable ceasefires, a staggered release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and ultimately a ceasefire to end the war.

It also provides for a Palestinian government of technocrats after talks involving “all Palestinian factions”, which would be responsible for governing and rebuilding in postwar Gaza, it said

It also provides for a Palestinian government of technocrats after talks involving “all Palestinian factions”, which would be responsible for governing and rebuilding in postwar Gaza

From listening to a Twitter Space with Palestinians in the region speaking, this bit is seen as unacceptable. It's seen as a way to install an "Abbas" sort of western friendly leader. Abbas and the PA are seen as collaborators with the Israeli Government as Palestinians in the West Bank continue to suffer.

Thanks for the update
Glad to see there has been atleast a little progress
I think even if both parties agree the negotiating the finer details might take awhile

I have just seen on sky
Netanyahu was supposed to have a meeting today regarding Gaza and hostages but Bezalel Smotrich objected (I'm pretty sure he's one of the extremist ones) so now the meeting is cancelled

Netanyahu cancels war cabinet meeting on GazaIsrael's cabinet had been due to meet to discuss a deal with Hamas that would see them exchange hostages for prisoners - but this has now been cancelled by the country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The second item on the agenda would have been what Gaza would look like the day after the war - something Israel's ally the US has been urging to be discussed.
But Bezalel Smotrich, from Mr Netanyahu's coalition party, reportedly did not want the discussion to take place and has rejected the Palestinian Authority (PA) having any rule in Gaza after the war.
He is also very much against transferring any money to the PA as the Americans have been urging.
So under pressure and amid fears of fracturing his coalition and putting his government and position as prime minister at risk, Mr Netanyahu has cancelled the meeting, leaving it to the wider security cabinet.

Netanyahu knows that once the conflict is over the investigations over the security failures on the 7th October will start.
He had an extremely tense call with Biden, where he hung up on Biden.

Yes, it's the extreme Smotrich that's withholding the money from the PA, taxes that have been paid by Palestinians. The PA have had to borrow money and are only paying 60% of the salaries of government workers.
https://www.axios.com/2023/12/28/biden-netanyahu-call-palestinian-authority-tax-revenue

Just to say almost every evening there are demonstrations led by the hostage's families/against Netanyahu in Israel

@BelleHathor that conversation from 'a source close to the action' can be interpreted in lots of different ways. The Americans have said progress was made on releasing funds.

I believe the idea is to funnel it through Norway and Israel check the receipts. I wouldn't want money going to terrorists or terrorists families for 'play for slay' either. Seems rather counterproductive.

@Efacsen it's not just against Netanyahu.
There are also hostage families who support the offensive and some who want it upscaled. They just want their families back.

No mention on the Hamas post about the hostage supposedly still alive after nine years though? If that's not psychological torture I don't know what is?

Yes we've already been round the not-all families block already

And why should I comment on vile Hamas propaganda brought to this thread? Have already done so elsewhere

Yes the plan was to funnel it through Norway, which apparently Netanyahu has reneged on due to Smotrich refusing to release the money.

It's about optics, Biden was asking for an easy win as his unwavering support for Israel means that he is on track to lose the election next year. He also has to counter the growing factions in his administration who do not see supporting Israel as in America's strategic interests. Netanyahu couldn't or wouldn't give him that win. Without America's support in terms of weapons, money and diplomatically, Israel loses.

@Efacsen sorry I didn't realise there was a list of things I couldn't discuss. Perhaps you need to make that more clear. I hadn't seen it had been 'done already' but I assume most things have by the posts I have read.

@BelleHathor good point. I wonder with the release of information it might put the screws on a bit with all involved.

If israel needs America as much as is talked about on here and risks losing support I assume things will have to give at some point.

I don't think even Netanyahu is that stupid or bull headed.

@moosmama123
sorry I didn't realise there was a list of things I couldn't discuss. Perhaps you need to make that more clear

Seriously do you think that's some kind of clever comment?

A protest against the war and rally calling for a ceasefire in Tel Aviv

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1cR6F-Ivpu/?igsh=MTJqa280ejNwOWFwYg==

https://x.com/Kahlissee/status/1740788117647274093?s=20

South Africa has just invoked the Genocide Acr in respect of the Israeli Governments actions. Bless them.