(ANSA) – TEL AVIV, 24 AUGUST – A Hamas delegation will go to Cairo today for talks with negotiators of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release of hostages. Al Jazeera reports. Yesterday, Egypt reportedly sent the Islamist group that governs Gaza the modified parts of the bridge project of the agreement, the updates concern in particular the Rafah border crossing and the Philadelphia corridor, the buffer zone between the Strip and the Egyptian desert. International pressure on the two parties, Israel and Hamas, has been at its highest in recent weeks to close the agreement to free the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October and put an end to the fighting in Gaza. In the meantime, retaliatory attacks against Israel by Iran and Hezbollah have been suspended pending the outcome of the negotiations. According to Israeli intelligence sources, 105 of the 251 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 are still in Gaza, including the bodies of 34 people confirmed dead by the IDF. Negotiations have stalled since November, when Hamas released 105 civilians during a week-long truce in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Four hostages were freed before November, while seven others were rescued by troops. The bodies of 30 hostages have also been recovered, including three killed by mistake by the IDF while trying to escape their captors. (ANSA).
2024-08-25 22:59:00