Israel-Hamas war: Netanyahu hints at hostage release deal
Monday, 13 November 2023 (10:07 IST)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at the possibility of an agreement for the release of hostages in Gaza.
"There could be [an agreement], but I think the less I say about it, the more I increase the chances it materializes," Netanyahu told US broadcaster NBC.
He argued that Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip created movement in negotiations.
"If a deal is available, well, we'll talk about it when it's there. We'll announce it if it's achieved," he said.
Netanyahu did not provide any details on the potential deal.
Hamas took 239 people hostage during its attacks on southern Israel on October 7, according to Israeli authorities.
Biden and Qatar's Tamim discuss hostage release negotiations
US President Joe Biden and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani agree that all hostages should be released, according to the White House.
The two leaders spoke on Sunday about "urgent ongoing efforts" to secure the release of hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Biden "unequivocally" condemned the holding of hostages by Hamas, according to the White House statement.
"The two leaders agreed that all hostages must be released without further delay," the statement said.
Qatar has been leading mediation efforts between Hamas and Israeli officials over the hostages.
Israeli authorities say Hamas killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and took over 200 hostages in its attacks on October 7. The group is classified as a terrorist organization by Germany, the United States, the European Union and several other countries.
US President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, said that negotiations were taking place.
"There are efforts to secure a deal that would involve the release of hostages," Sullivan told the ABC broadcaster.
"I have to be careful about what I say publicly about this because it is of course a delicate and sensitive negotiation," he said.
Al-Shifa director denies hospital rejected fuel from IDF
The head of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Mohammed Abu Salamia, has denied claims that his hospital rejected fuel supply under pressure from Hamas.
He called the charge a "lie and defamation."
The Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed that Hamas prevented the hospital from using 300 liters of fuel that Israeli soldiers had placed in containers next to the hospital on Saturday evening.
Abu Salamia said that the quantity would not be enough to run the hospital generators for "fifteen minutes."
The hospital director said that his team was afraid of being shot by Israeli forces if they left the hospital in order to take the containers. He said that Israel should have sent the containers through the Red Cross or another international organization.
Israel accuses Hamas of misusing medical facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas is classified by Israel, Germany, the United States and several other countries as a terrorist organization.
The World Health Organization says conditions in the Al-Shifa Hospital are catastrophic.
