Taking prisoners: Red Cross ready to help free Gaza hostages
The Red Cross is ready to assist the process of releasing hostages from the Gaza Strip. This was reported to "Izvestia" in the press service of the committee. Earlier, the head of the Israeli government Benjamin Netanyahu noted that there is some progress in the negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza. But some disagreements between the parties still remain, the Israeli prime minister's office told Izvestia. Hamas said on Dec. 25 that the Jewish state had made new demands and this had delayed the negotiation process. According to Israeli media, on the contrary, the Palestinian movement is making it difficult to reach a deal by not providing a list of live captives. What problematic aspects remain between the parties - in the exclusive material of Izvestia.
The Red Cross is ready to help hostages in Gaza
Negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the held hostages have encountered some difficulties. Although a week ago the media reported that the parties had almost reached the final stage of agreements, optimism is waning. Nevertheless, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told Izvestia that it is ready to facilitate the process of releasing the captives.
- The ICRC is ready to assist in the humanitarian aspects of any agreement between the parties in its role as a neutral mediator. "Acting in this role, the ICRC helped release two hostages on October 20, 2023 and two more on October 24, 2023," the organization's spokesman Christian Cardon told Izvestia.
The committee added that in late November last year, the Red Cross facilitated the release of another 105 detainees during a seven-day agreement.
- The ICRC continues to call for immediate release, humane treatment, access and family contact for all hostages held in Gaza," Christian Cardon said.
High-intensity talks are taking place in Doha and Cairo. Earlier, Arab media wrote that a deal could be reached as soon as possible, and a Hamas source confirmed to Izvestia that most of the contentious issues have already been agreed upon. Nevertheless, contentious issues remain, Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
- "The negotiation process is underway, but there are still some disagreements between the contracting parties," Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the Israeli prime minister, told Izvestia.
Iranian international relations specialist Hadi Issa Daloul believes that after the events in Syria and Lebanon, the resistance forces have lost the ability to maintain military capabilities and Hamas should consider an agreement.
- The main problem has to do with certain territorial realities that Israel is counting on. There's very powerful pressure there from those who would like to territorialize their borders in the Gaza Strip and even in the West Bank. Therefore, there is a long-term interest here, which does not clash with the UN documents, the ideas of other countries, including the Russian Federation," added Andrei Baklanov, deputy chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats, professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
It is difficult to define Hamas' strategy because of the different understanding of the situation by representatives of the individual factions that make up the movement, but the matter has not yet come to serious, long-term decisions, Andrei Baklanov believes.
Gaza ceasefire deal
Hamas, judging by various media reports, has given up demands for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip in the first stage. But the movement wants guarantees that further stages of the deal will provide for the realization of this condition. On Dec. 25, Hamas said cease-fire and prisoner exchange talks were continuing in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, and the movement had shown flexibility. However, Israel imposed new conditions related to withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners and refugee return, which delayed the existing agreement, the movement added.
Earlier, its representative in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdel Hadi, told Izvestia that Hamas was ready to show flexibility in some points of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The movement's position, he said, could be adjusted with regard to the chosen timing of the deal's stages, the issue of hostages, their number or specific individuals.
The main factors contributing to concessions by Hamas appear to have been Israel's military successes against the pro-Iranian "Axis of Resistance." The weakening of Hezbollah, the loss of Syria, and the election of Netanyahu's close ally Donald Trump as U.S. president have all complicated Hamas' position, the movement apparently becoming more accommodating of a deal.
Arab media reported some details of the potential agreement. The first phase, which would last six to eight weeks, includes a temporary ceasefire, Israeli army withdrawal from Gaza cities, with the IDF maintaining a partial presence in the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and the Strip and the Netzarim corridor dividing Gaza into southern and northern parts. Women and children will be allowed to return to the north of the Strip immediately. Men will do so at a later date and according to an agreed mechanism. By the way, this mechanism is still on the negotiating agenda. According to media reports, Israel has dropped the requirement to inspect returning men to the north of Gaza. The number of humanitarian aid trucks entering the exclave will gradually increase.
Hamas, in turn, undertakes to hand over some 30 Israeli captives (including dead bodies) in the first phase. In return, Israel will release a certain number of Palestinian prisoners, including dozens of those sentenced to life terms. The Rafah border crossing will be taken over by the Palestinian Authority.
The second phase includes negotiations for the release of the remaining captive men in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.
But the sides have many details to discuss. The Jewish state is seeking accurate figures on the living hostages. Hamas, however, is refusing to provide a list of living and dead captives to be released in the first phase, Israeli media reported. According to them, the obstacles to providing the list are obstructed by the new Hamas leader in Gaza, Muhammad Sinwar, who has a tougher position than his brother Yahya, killed by the Israeli military on October 16, 2024.
Recall, a total of 100 hostages are being held in Gaza, including those believed dead. Among the captives are two citizens of the Russian Federation - Alexander Trufanov and Maxim Harkin. The Hamas leadership considers them to be Israeli military, but these men are ready to be released primarily as a gesture of respect to Russia, if a deal is struck.
