Israel claims to have killed a Hezbollah commander. Hamas rejects a discussed hostage deal. All developments in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
20:34: The Islamist Hamas apparently rejects the recently discussed deal to release the hostages. This is reported by several Israeli media outlets, referring to an official statement by the terrorist organization. It claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is setting “new conditions and demands” in order to prevent talks and prolong the war in the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas statement, quoted by the Times of Israel, says that the latest US-backed proposal reflects Israel’s demands. It refers to the Israeli demand that Israeli forces remain in the so-called Philadelphia Corridor and at the Rafah border crossing, among other places.
The question of whether Israel will withdraw from the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which it captured in May, is considered to be particularly controversial in the negotiations. Hamas is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu, on the other hand, wants the Israeli army to continue to control the Philadelphia Corridor even after a ceasefire, for example to prevent the smuggling of weapons. Read more about this here.
It is still unclear whether the negotiations have finally failed. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv late in the afternoon. He is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu and other leading figures on Monday. He will make it clear to all parties that an agreement must be found, it is said.
5.34pm: According to the Foreign Ministry, Israel will thoroughly investigate allegations of torture of Palestinian prisoners. “Israel remains committed to the rule of law and the humane treatment of all prisoners. All allegations of violence of any kind will be methodically investigated by the Israeli authorities,” the ministry said.
UN experts on Friday sharply criticized a “particularly cruel” case of alleged sexual abuse of a prisoner by Israeli soldiers. According to Israeli media reports, the soldiers are accused of sexually abusing a member of an elite Hamas unit in the Sde Teiman prison in the Negev desert in southern Israel. The investigations against the soldiers were met with sharp criticism from right-wing extremist members of the Israeli cabinet.
Netanyahu calls negotiations on hostage release “complex”
16:24: According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is in “complex negotiations” to release the hostages kidnapped by the Palestinian Hamas. There are points on which Israel can be flexible, he said at the start of a cabinet meeting, according to his office. But this is not possible on issues that are essential to the country’s security: “We know very well how to distinguish between the two.” In order to release the kidnapped people, both military and diplomatic pressure must be exerted.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wants to work for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages as part of a new Middle East mission. Just a few days ago, the US and the mediators Qatar and Egypt made new proposals for an end to the war. US diplomats believe a breakthrough is possible.
21:34: Israeli negotiators in the talks on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip express “cautious optimism” after their return from Doha.
“The team expressed cautious optimism to the prime minister about the possibility of reaching an agreement based on the recent US proposal,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
19:56: After an attack by the Israeli army on a building in Lebanon, the Hezbollah militia reportedly attacked Israel with numerous rockets. According to the Israeli military, around 55 missiles were fired from the neighboring country in the direction of Israel. Some landed in open areas. There were initially no reports of injuries in the latest attack. However, several fires broke out.
