April 25, 2024 13:14 GMT
US & 17 Other Leaders Issue Joint Statement Calling For Hostage Release
ISRAEL
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US President Joe Biden and 17 other world leaders have released a joint statementcalling on Hamas to release its Israeli hostages as a pathway to end the Gaza crisis. The statement claims that the "deal on the table to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, that would facilitate a surge of additional necessary humanitarian assistance to be delivered throughout Gaza, and lead to the credible end of hostilities."
- Aun unnamed US official claimed that the Hamas "response to the latest offer from inside Gaza was totally non-constructive". Official: "We do see some indications there might be an avenue for a deal but [are] not totally confident."
- The statement comes a day after Hamas released a proof-of-life video of 24-year-old Hersch Goldberg-Polin. The Telegraph reports "He said at least 70 of the remaining 130 or so hostages had been killed in Gaza in Israeli bombings...Official Israeli estimates have put the number closer to 35."
- Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said to AP that Hamas would agree to lay down its weapons in exchange for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders. Such a concession could be seen as a major stepdown for Hamas, given its previous commitment to the destruction of Israel.
- However, the pledge is likely made knowing that Israel would not countenance such a move. Israel has come under pressure from some alliesto move towards a two-state solution, but this remains very unlikely under PM Benjamin Netanyahu's gov't.
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